THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


GENERAL   THOMAS   LAWLER, 

X"~«  OMMANDER-in-Chief  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  was  born  in 
I  Liverpool,  England,  on  the  7th  day  of   April,  1844.    Came  to  Illinois 

\**/  when  a  child,  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Rock- 
ford,  Illinois.  At  the  age  of  17  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Co.  E,  19th 
Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  in  June,  1861,  serving  three  years  and  three 
months.  He  was  with  his  company  and  regiment  in  every  battle  in  which 
they  were  engaged, and  with  the  colors  of  his  regiment  was  the  first  man  of 
his  command  over  the  Confederate  works  at  the  battle  of  Missionary  Ridge, 
November  25th,  1863.  He  served  as  private,  sergeant,  and  -was  elected  First 
Lieutenant.  Commanded  his  company  for  two  months  during  the  Atlanta 
Campaign,  was  elected  by  the  vote  of  his  company  and  placed  upon  the  roll 
of  honor  by  order  of  Major-general  Rosecrans,  commanding  the  Army  of 
the  Cumberland.  Organised  the  Rockford  Rifles  in  1876  and  made  it  the  most 
efficient  and  best-known  military  organization  in  the  west.  Was  elected 
Colonel,  and  commanded  the  3rd  Illinois  National  Guard  for  seven  years, 
when  he  resigned  in  order  to  give  younger  officers  a  chance  for  promotion. 
Was  postmaster  at  Rockford  under  the  Hayes,  Garfield  and  Harrison 
administrations,  and  is  now  engaged  in  the  lumber  and  coal  business  in 
Rockford,  Illinois. 


GLIMPSES 


OF 


CHICKAMAUGA 

A  COMPLETE  GUIDE 

TO  ALL  POINTS  OF  INTEREST  ON  THIS 

HISTORIC  BATTLE-FIELD, 


A  BRIEF,  YET  COMPREHENSIVE  NARRATIVE  OF  THE  CHICKAMAUGA 

CAMPAIGN    AND  THE  BATTLES  AROUND  CHATTANOOGA, 

WITH  MAPS  AND  ILLUSTRATIONS  FROM  ORIGINAL 

DRAWINGS  AND  PHOTOGRAPHS, 


BY 


COMRADE  ALBERT  DISBROW. 


DONOHUE  &  HENNEBERRY, 
"    PUBLISHERS,  PRINTERS  AND  BINDERS, 
407  TO  429  DEARBORN  STREET. 
CHICAGO. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress  in  the  year  1895 

BY  ALBERT  DISBROW, 
in  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  Washington,  D.  C 


£ 

475.  XI- 

a. 

f 


PREFACE. 

The  Chickamauga  campaign,  commanded  by 
General  Rosecrans  was  an  aggressive  movement 
and  meant  war  and  desolation.  From  twenty- 
three  States  of  the  Union  determined  men,  one 

CO 

£3    hundred  thousand  strong,  met  on  those  memora- 
ble days  on  this  memorable  field,  in  deadly  strife. 
Si     In  many  of  the  commands  one-half  of  the  men  were 

H 

SS     killed  or  wounded.    In  the  campaign  of  September, 

1895,  upon  the  same  grounds  will  be  assembled, 

^     perhaps;  as  large  a  number  of  men,  many  of  whom 

^    were  in  command  at  the  battle  of  Chickamauga. 

£1    The  brave  and  dashing  Longstreet,  with  many  of 

z    his  comrades  scarred  by  time  and  battle,  will  be 

upon  the  ground,  and  the  royal  old  hero,  General 

d    Rosecrans,  with  his  staff  of  veteran  aids,  including 

^    the  famous  General  Wilder  and  General  Thomas 

o     Lawler,  the  honored  Commander-in-Chief   of  the 
03 

m  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  not  with  sword  and 
bayonet,  for  those  have  been  hammered  into  plow- 

5  shares  and  pruning-hooks — our  Nation  desires  war 
no  more.  Upon  this  field  will  lie  down  in  peace- 
ful sleep  those  who  wore  the  Blue  and  the  Gray$ 
.  an-d  a  spirit  of  unity  and  peace  will  hover  over  the 


448062 


4  PREFACE. 

scene,  and  instead  of  the  cannon's  roar  and  the  roll 
of  musketry  will  be  heard  in  sweet  and  musical 
strains  the  air  of  our  National  hymn,  "My  Coun- 
try, 'Tis  of  Thee!" 

It  is  only  the  lack  of  analysis  and  a  careful  study 
of  the  battles  around  Chattanooga  during  the 
months  of  September  and  November,  1863,  that 
has  prevented  the  people  from  justly  appreciating 
those  terrific  struggles  where  one-third  of  all  the 
men  engaged  were  killed  or  wounded.  Now  gran- 
ite monuments  mark  those  grounds  where  heroes 
fell,  and  two  hundred  iron  tablets  placed  at  various 
points  on  the  field  tell  of  the  different  commands 
and  movements  of  troops.  This  historical  and 
very  interesting  matter  has  been  gleaned  from  the 
war  records  of  Union  and  Confederate  depart- 
ments by  General  H.  V.  Boynton,  a  noted  and  gal- 
lant Union  officer,  who  distinguished  himself  at 
the  battle  of  Chickamauga.  These  gleanings  were 
arranged  and  submitted  to  a  large  number  of  rep- 
resentative ex-soldiers  and  officers  of  both  armies 
and  all  points  of  difference  concerning  the  battles 
agreed  upon.  The  reading  matter  to  be  placed 
upon  each  tablet  erected  was  then  sent  to  the  Sec- 
retary of  War,  approved  by  him,  and  returned  to 
General  Boynton  for  execution.  The  author  has 
in  his  possession  a  copy  of  all  those  proof  sheets, 
which  form  the  basis  of  this  narrative. 


PREFACE.  5 

Visiting  Chiekamauga  Park  in  company  with  a 
squad  of  old  comrades,  I  noticed  how  eagerly  the 
boys  read  those  brief  lines  which  conveyed  vol- 
umes of  history  and  conceived  the  idea  of  writing 
this  book.  Out  of  the  matter  contained  on  those 
tablets,  with  some  additions,  this  little  volume 
has  been  written.  For  many  months  I  have  made 
a  careful  study  of  the  grounds  of  the  Chiekamauga 
National  Military  Park,  in  company  with  my 
friend,  Mr.  W.  A.  Wood,  assistant  engineer  upon 
the  grounds,  who  has  done  all  the  surveying  of  the 
fifteen-mile  Government  purchase,  and  assisted 
in  placing  every  tower,  tablet  and  gun  carriage 
upon  this  historic  field.  A  careful  study  of  this 
book  is  all  that  is  necessary  in  order  to  become 
familiar  with  the  roads  leading  to  all  points  of 
the  field,  where  the  heaviest  fighting  was  done,  and 
to  the  positions  of  the  different  batteries.  In  visit- 
ing the  Chiekamauga  battlefield,  the  better  way 
is  to  commence  at  Crawfish  Springs  and  move 
northeast  on  the  roads  leading  to  the  Lafayette 
Road,  along  which  on  either  side  the  troops  moved 
into  action.  The  map  is  the  work  of  E.  E.  Betts, 
engineer  and  draftsman  for  the  United  States 
Government,  at  Chattanooga.  For  courtesies  and 
valuable  assistance  I  am  under  obligations  to  Gen- 
erals Stewart,  Longstreet,  Gordon  and  Major 
Lyman  (Confederates).  The  casting  of  all  the  tab- 


6  PREFACE. 

lets  placed  upon  the  park  grounds  was  done  at  the 
car  and  machine  works  of  the  Hon.  H.  Clay  Evans 
of  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  to  whom  I  am  grateful  for 
complete  copies  of  tablet  texts  and  other  valuable 
information. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTEK  I. 
Chattanooga 9 

CHAPTER  II. 
Wagon  Roads  Diverging  from  Chattanooga  to  the  Various 

Points  of  Military  Interest 13 

CHAPTER  III. 
Chickamauga  National  Park 17 

CHAPTER  IV. 
Guide  to  Chickamauga  Park -, 26 

CHAPTER  V. 
Organization  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland 36 

CHAPTER  VI. 
Rosecrans'  Movements  on  Chattanooga  and  Chickamauga. .     57 

CHAPTER  VII. 
Battle  of  Saturday,  Sept.  19th,  1863 77 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
Battle  of  Sunday,  Sept.  20th,  1863 SS 

CHAPTER  IX. 
Army  of  the  Cumberland  at  Chattanooga 110 

CHAPTER  X. 
Battle  of  Brown's  Ferry 113 

CHAPTER  XI. 
Battle  of  Wauhatchie 1— 

CHAPTER  XII. 
The    Rattles    of    Chattanooga,    Orchard    Knob,     Lookout 

Mountain  and  Missionary  Ridge 126 


LIST  OF  ENGRAVINGS. 


Mrs.  Emma  R.  Wallace 

Gen.  Thomas  Lawler 

Gen.  J.  P.  Gordon 

Kelley  House 

Lee  Mansion,  Crawfish  Springs 

Brotherton  House 

"Rock  of  Chickamauga" 

Snodgrass  House 

Gen.  Thomas 

Gen.  McCook 

Gen.  Crittendon 

Gen.  Polk 

Gen.  Hill 

Gen.  Walker i 

Gen.  Buckner 

Gen.  Longstreet 

Gen.  Forest 

Gen.  Rosecrans , 

Gen.  Bragg . . . 

J.  C.  Bohart 

Gen.  Jas.  M.  Bohart 

Lee  and  Gordon's  Mill , 

Map  of  Chickamauga 

Gen.  Sheridan 

Gen.  Cleburne 

Gen.  Wood 

Gen.  Hood -, 

Gen.  Brannon 

Gen.  Steedman ...    

Gen.  Palmer 

Gen.  Geary 

Gen.  Hooker 

Gen.  Walthall 

Tower  at  Bragg's  Headquarters 

Gen.  Breekinrulge .^ 

Map  of  Missionary  Ridge  and  Lookout  Mountain. 


GENERAL  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS 

V\TAS  born  in  Virginia  in  1816,  and  died  in  San  Francisco, 
*  *  Cal  ,  in  1870.  Was  a  graduate  of  West  Point:  served  in 
the  Indian  wars  with  General  Taylor.  From  November  1861 
till  March  1862  he  commanded  a  division  of  the  Army  of  the 
Ohio,  defeating-  the  Confederates  in  the  battle  of  Mill  Spring1. 
Commanded  the  14th  Corps  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland, 
doing-  eminent  service  in  the  battles  of  Stone  River  and 
and  Chickamaug-a.  Defended  Tennessee  against  the  invasion  of 
Hood.  For  this  service  he  was  made  Major-general  in  the 
U.  S.  Army  and  received  the  thanks  of  Congress,  and  from  the 
Legislature  a  gold  medal.  His  fa'her  was  of  Welch  extraction 
and  his  mother  was  descended  from  the  Huguenots.  There  has 
been  erected  at  the  National  Capitol  a  magnificent  equestrian 
statue  of  General  Thomas. 


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ANNAN'S  DIVISION—  THOMAS' 

BRIGADIER-GENERAL  JOHN  M.  BRANR 

(September  20th,  1  to  7  p.  m.) 

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Second  Brigade  —  William  H.  Hays. 
Third  Brigade  —  Ferdinand  Van  Derveer. 

d  of  Hood's  column  pierced  the  Union  line  i 
e  right.  Brannan's  line  was  taken  in  flank  i 
dispatched  to  Baird's  assistance  at  the  extreme 
s,  after  stout  resistance  toward  their  right  an 
sorder  and  were  rapidly  rallied  by  General 
thered  other  forces  and  fragments  of  regiment 
ed.  Connell,  with  part  of  his  Brigade,  wai 
nd  sent  toward  Chattanooga,  Colonel  Mort( 
he  brigade  on  Snodgrass  Hill.  Harker's  Bri 
aok  Law's  Division  while  Brannan  was  arra] 
idge  north  of  Snodgrass  House. 

HORSHOE  RIDGE. 

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GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 


CHAPTER  I. 

CHATTANOOGA. 

Chattanooga  in  its  early  history  bore  many 
names;  it  seems  to  have  been  the  only  fordable 
place  on  the  river  for  many  miles,  and  early  set- 
tlers say  that  the  buffalo,  guided  by  his  wonderful 
instinct,  made  this  his  crossing  place  on  his  an- 
nual trips  to  the  north  and  return.  For  this  rea- 
son the  settlement  was  called  "Buffalo  Ford,"  and 
later  "Shallow  Ford,"  "Lookout  City"  and  "Ross 
Landing,"  after  John  Ross,  a  white  chief  of  the 
Chickamauga  Indians.  His  old  house  still  stands 
in  Rossville.  In  1837,  the  Government  established 
a  military  post  here  and  its  importance  as  a  point 
of  vantage  made  it  the  scene  of  some  of  the  most 
stirring  events  of  the  war.  Early  in  18G2,  the  Fed- 
erals made  demonstrations  toward  taking  it,  and 
on  a  Sunday  morning,  while  the  old  Methodist 
pastor  and  his  congregation  were  kneeling  in  sol- 
emn devotion,  a  Yankee  shell  came  screaming 


10  GLIMPSES  OP  CHICKAMAUGA. 

over  the  town  and  struck  the  church.  My  inform- 
ant said  "We  adjourned  without  singing  the  Dox- 
ologjr."  The  Chattanooga  of  to-day  is  a  metropoli- 
tan city  with  splendid  schools  and  magnificent 
churches,  and  is  rapidly  becoming  a  resort  for 
pleasure-seekers  at  all  seasons  of  the  year.  On 
Lookout  Mountain,  two  thousand  feet  above  the 
city,  one  may  find  a  resting  place,  breathe  the 
mountain  air,  heavily  laden  with  the  ozone  of  the 
pine,  stand  upon  the  jutting  rocks  and  behold  the 
beautiful  Tennessee,  Chattanooga  and  Lookout 
Valleys,  with  the  streams  of  water  like  silver 
threads  winding  their  way  between  the  evergreen 
hills.  Upon  the  west  side  of  Lookout,  jutting  from 
the  mountain  side  stands  Sunset  Eock,  overlook- 
ing Wauhatchie,  a  small  station  on  the  Nashville 
&  Chattanooga  Kailroad.  This  rock  was  used  by 
the  Confederates  as  a  point  of  observation.  With 
a  fieldglass  they  watched  the  movements  of  the 
Yankee  troops  in  Chattanooga  and  vicinity.  On 
the  afternoon  of  October  28th,  from  this  point, 
Generals  Bragg  and  Longstreet  discovered  Gen- 
eral Hooker's  column  advancing  toward  Wau- 
hatchie, and  the  night  attack  was  planned.  Just 
opposite  this  point  on  the  east  side  of  the  moun- 
tain is  Table  Rock,  nearly  a  perpendicular  cliff 
seventeen  hundred  feet  above  the  little  village  of 
St.  Elmo.  From  this  rock  Jefferson  Davis  deliv- 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  11 

ered  a  congratulatory  speech  to  the  Confederate 
army  upon  their  gallant  conduct  during  the  bat- 
tle of  Chickamauga,  while  the  Union  army  were 
surrounded  in  the  valley  at  Chattanooga.  He  said : 
"We  will  thank  God  and  take  courage!"  General 
Stevenson  was  in  command  of  Lookout  Mountain 
with  fifteen  thousand  troops  and  a  battery  of 
twelve  guns. 

The  finest  view  for  the  tourist  is  from  the  bal- 
conies of  the  Point  Hotel,  which  is  situated  near 
the  summit  overlooking  the  city,  at  the  terminus 
of  the  Incline  railway.  The  Broad-Gauge  railroad 
reaches  the  magnificent  Lookout  Inn  by  a  zig-zag 
course  up  the  mountain,  affording  a  fine  view  of 
the  rugged  mountain  side,  passing  the  Craven 
House  and  through  the  fields  where  the  famous 
"Battle  Above  the  Clouds"  was  fought.  Fort  Wil- 
der on  the  north  side  is  reached  by  an  electric  car 
line  crossing  the  high  bridge,  which  affords  a 
charming  view  of  the  river  and  Moccasin  Bend.  A 
short  distance  from  the  base  of  Missionary  Ridge 
is  seen  the  National  Cemetery.  The  main  entrance 
is  through  a  granite  archway  with  heavy  gates  of 
iron.  The  grounds  are  enclosed  with  walls  of  ma- 
sonry and  upon  tablets  of  metal  we  read  acts  of 
Congress  regulating  the  management  and  protec- 
tion of  National  Cemeteries.  The  gates  open  at 
sunrise  and  close  at  sunset — all  driving  restricted 


12  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

to  a  walk.  On  the  elevated  ground  in  the  center 
stands  a  flagstaff,  and  in  this  green  campus  sleep 
fourteen  thousand  brave  boys  who  wore  the  blue. 
Many  fine  monuments  adorn  the  grounds,  but 
none  is  more  interesting  than  the  one  to  the 
Andrews  Haiders — a  beautiful  engine  perfect  in 
all  its  appurtenances,  made  of  bronze  and  mounted 
on  a  base  of  granite.  It  is  called  the  "General," 
and  i§  typical  of  the  one  captured  by  the  brave 
Ohio  boys.  Near  by  is  the  Confederate  Cemetery 
where  sleep  many  of  the  gallant  boys  wrho  wore  the 
gray.  In  and  about  the  city  are  to  be  found  build- 
ings of  historic  interest.  At  the  corner  of  Fourth 
and  Market  Streets  stands  a  three-story  brick, 
which  was  built  in  1840  and  used  during  the  war 
as  a  Confederate  prison  where  captured  Yankees 
were  held.  At  316  Walnut  Street  is  the  old  build- 
ing which  was  used  by  General  Rosecrans  as  head- 
quarters, and  later  by  General  Grant.  Here 
Grant,  Sherman  and  Thomas  planned  the  battle 
of  Missionary  Eidge.  At  326  is  the  building  which 
was  used  as  the  headquarters  of  General  Garfield, 
General  Rosecrans'  chief  of  staff,  and  which  was 
also  used  by  General  Brannan,  chief  of  artillery. 
These  old  buildings  are  relics  of  the  Nation's  dark 
est  days. 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  13 


CHAPTER  II. 

WAGON    ROADS    DIVERGING    FROM    CHATTANOOGA  TO 
THE  VARIOUS  POINTS  OF  MILITARY  INTEREST. 

By  consulting  these  explanatory  notes  of  loca- 
tions, the  reader  will  be  enabled  to  follow  the  dif- 
ferent commands  and  locate  their  geographical 
positions,  which  is  very  necessary  in  the  study  of 
the  strategy  of  the  commanding  Generals.  The 
wagon  road  over  which  Bragg  moved  in  evacuat- 
ing Chattanooga,  September  7th  and  8th,  is  known 
as  the  Lafayette  Road.  It  runs  nearly  due  south  to 
Lafayette.  The  points  of  interest  along  this  road 
and  the  distances  are  as  follows : 

Miles. 

Chattanooga  to  Rossville 4 

Chattanooga  to  Lee  and  Gordon's  mill 12 

Chattanooga  to  Snow  Hill 15 

Chattanooga  to  Dr.  Anderson's 16 

Chattanooga  to  Rock  Springs  and  Catlett's  Gap 17 

Chattanooga  to  La  Fayette 25*4 

Here  the  road  forks,  one  branch  running  to  Sum- 
merville,  which  is  fifteen  miles  distant  from  Lafay- 
ette'; the  other  to  Alpine,  which  is  twenty  miles 
from  Lafayette,  this  fork  crosses  the  Blue  Bird 
Gap  Iload  four  miles  from  Lafayette. 


14  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

The  north  point  of  Lookout  Mountain  is  washed 
by  the  waters  of  the  Tennessee  River.  Two  small 
streams  empty  into  the  river  near  this  point,  Look- 
out Creek  on  the  west  in  Lookout  Valley,  which  is 
traversed  by  wagon  road  to  Trenton,  where  it 
ascends  to  the  summit  and  forms  a  junction  with 
the  main  road  on  the  top  twenty  miles  from  Chat- 
tanooga. Following  this  road  eight  miles  to  John- 
son's Crook,  a  road  ascends  through  Stevens'  Gap 
into  McLemores'  Cove,  thence  east  via  Dug  Gap 
Road,  passing  Baileys'  Cross  Road  and  Widow- 
Davis'  to  Lafayette,  ten  miles.  On  the  east  base 
of  Lookout  is  Chattanooga  Valley,  and  through  it 
runs  Chattanooga  Creek,  which  empties  into  the 
river  between  the  point  and  Chattanooga,  which 
is  three  miles.  This  valley,  which  lies  be- 
tween Missionary  Ridge  and  Lookout  is  four  miles 
wide  at  Chattanooga,  and  is  gradually  narrowed 
until  Missionary  Ridge  terminates  ten  miles  from 
Chattanooga.  The  valley  at  this  point  is  quite 
narrow,  but  widens  at  once  and  w- e  are  in  McLem- 
ores' Cove.  The  water  divides  here,  forming  Chat- 
tanooga and  Chickamauga  Creeks,  the  latter  flow- 
ing along  the  east  base  of  Missionary  Ridge  and 
emptying  into  the  Tennessee  River  four  miles 
above  the  city. 

McLemores'  Cove  lies  between  the  base  of  Look- 
out Mountain  and  Pigeon  Mountain,  which  is  a 


MRS.    EMMA    R.    WALLACE, 

TWELFTH  National  President  of  the  Woman's  Relief  Corps,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Gilson,  was  born  at  Lamoille.  111.. in  1841.  Was  mar- 
ried to  Col.  M.  R.  Wallace,  a  gallant  Union  officer  of  renown  in  1863.  Their 
wedding- trip  was  to  "The  Front"  and  continued  to  the  close  of  the  wnr. 
Mis.  Wallace  remaining1  with  her  husband.  They  then  resided  in  the  South 
II  years,  and  returned  to  Chicago  in  1876.  Mrs.  Wallace  was  a  member  of 
the  World  s  Columbian  Board.  For  nearly  20  years  she  has  been  president 
of  or  leading  manager  in  a  score  of  philanthropic  associations,  among  them 
the  Woman's  Exchange,  the  Home  of  the  Friendle.-s  the  Chicago  Woman's 
Club,  and  the  Press  Club.  In  the  Relief  Corps  she  has  always  been  faithful 
and  efficient.  In  accepting  what  is  perhaps  the  highest  'public  honor  a 
woman  can  attain — the  National  Presidency — she  left  the  greatest  gift  in 
Imperial  Illinois,  Department  President,  having  been  elected  for  the  second 
time  the  leader  of  8,000  patriotic  workers  in  :.'!  1  Relief  Corps. 

"She  hath  done  what  she  could"-  oh  sweet  benediction, 

Well  hath  she  earned  it.  this  sister  of  ours; 
"She  hath  done  «  hat  she  could"  in  their  hour  of  affliction 
To  strew  the  rough  path  of  our  Veterans  with  flowers." 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  15 

spur  of  Lookout.  From  the  north  point  of  Pigeon 
Mountain  to  the  base  of  Lookout  the  cove  is  four 
miles  wide  and  terminates  in  a  narrow  defile 
thirty  miles  southwest  of  Chattanooga  known  as 
Dougherty's  Gap.  There  is  a  plain  wagon  road 
from  Chattanooga  through  Chattanooga  Valley, 
McLemores'  Cove  and  Dougherty's  Gap,  and 
thence  along  the  summit  of  Lookout  Mountain 
down  through  Henderson's  Gap  to  Alpine  and 
across  Broomtown  Valley  to  Summerville. 

TABLE  OF  DISTANCES. 

Miles. 

Chattanooga  to  Rossville • 4 

Chattanooga  to  Cloud  House T1^ 

Chattanooga  to  Kelly's 8*& 

Chattanooga  to  Viniard's 10^ 

Chattanooga  to  Lee  and  Gordon's  mill 12 

Chattanooga  to  Snodgrass  House 10 

Chattanooga  to  Crawfish  Springs  via  Lee  and  Gordon's..  14 

Chattanooga  to  La  Fayette 25V4 

Rossville  to  McFarland's  Gap 2% 

Rossville  via  McFarland's  Gap  to  Widow  Glenn's 6 

Rossville  via  McFarland's  Gap  to  Crawfish  Springs 9 

Rossville  to  Kelly's 4% 

Rossville  to  Bragg's  headquarters  on  Missionary  Ridge..  4 

Rossville  to  De  Long's  place  (Tower) 5^ 

Rossville  to  Tunnel 8 

Rossville  to  north  end  of  Missionary  Rijlge %Vz 

Rossville  to  west  foot  of  Lookout  Mountain 3% 

Rossville  to  Lookout  Creek 5% 

Crawfish  Springs  to  Glass  Mill 2% 

Crawfish  Springs  to  Widow  Glenn's 3 

Crawfish  Springs  to  Lee  and  Gordon's  mill 2 

Ringgold  to  Reed's  bridge 6^4 


16  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

DISTANCES  ON  CHICKAMAUGA  FIELD. 

Miles. 

Clouds  to  McDaniel's ^ % 

McDaniel's   to   Kelly's % 

Kelly's  to  Poe's % 

Poe's  to  Brotherton's % 

Brotherton's  to  Viniard's 1 

Viniard's  to  Lee  and  Gordon's  mill iy2 

Lee  and  Gordon's  mill  to  La  Fayette 13*4 

Lee  and  Gordon's  to  Crawfish  Springs  Road 1 

Lee  and  Gordon's  to  Crawfish  Springs 2 

McDonald's  to  Reed's  bridge 2y2 

McDonald's  to  Jay's  mill 2 

Kelly's  to  Jay's  mill 2 

Brotherton's  to  Jay's  mill 2 

Viniard's  to  Hall's  ford 1 

Viniard's  to  Jay's  mill 3 

Viniard's  to  Alexander's  bridge 2y2 

Alexander's  bridge  to  Jay's  mill iy2 

Alexander's  bridge  to  McDonald's 3% 

McDonald's  to  McFarland's  Gap 21/4 

Snodgrass  Hill  to  McFarland's  Gap 2l/2 

Hall's  ford  to  Jay's  mill 2% 

Widow  Glenn's  to  Kelly's 2 

Kelly's  to  Snodgrass  House l/2 

Brotherton's  to  Snodgrass  House lJ/4 

McDonald's  to  Snodgrass  House 1  */i 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  17 


CHAPTER  III. 
CHICKAMAUGA    NATIONAL    PARK. 

The  origin  and  development  of  the  Chicka- 
mauga  National  Military  Park  was  brought  about 
in  very  much  the  same  manner  as  was  that  of  the 
Gettysburg  field,  and  mainly  through  the  influence 
of  a  series  of  letters  written  by  General  II.  V.  Boyn- 
ton,  Washington  correspondent  of  the  Cincinnati 
Commercial-Gazette.  The  General,  in  company 
with  General  Ferdinand  Van  Derveer,  his  old  com- 
mander, on  a  Sunday  morning  in  June,  1888,  rode 
over  the  field,  and  doubtless  the  oaks  and  pines, 
battle  scarred,  and  the  old  fields  where  they  had 
witnessed  the  surging  lines  of  troops,  brought 
vividly  to  their  minds  that  other  Sabbath  when 
the  same  fields  were  strewn  with  the  dead  and 
wounded. 

How  natural  it  would  be  for  those  survivors  to 
ask  the  question:  "Why  should  not  a  history  of 
this  field  of  Chickamauga  be  preserved  as  has  been 
the  field  of  Gettysburg?"  The  park  project  was 
soon  after  publicly  announced  in  the  series  of 
letters  before  mentioned  and  at  the  next  meeting 


18  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

of  the  society  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  a 
resolution  was  adopted  and  a  committee  appointed 
for  the  purpose  of  inaugurating  a  movement  for 
the  purchase  of  the  ground  on  which  the  battle  of 
Chickamauga  was  fought,  and  that  monuments  be 
placed  thereon  to  mark  the  location  of  the  troops 
who  participated  in  the  battle,  and  that  it  be  pre- 
served similar  to 'the  field  of  Gettysburg. 

This  committee  met  in  Washington,  February 
13th,  1889.  It  was  agreed  at  this  meeting  to  in- 
vite the  Confederate  Veterans  of  the  Battle  of 
Chickamauga,  who  were  present  in  Washington, 
to  unite  in  forming  a  memorial  association.  In 
September,  1889,  a  joint  meeting  of  veterans  was 
held  in  the  Baptist  church  on  the  battlefield  of 
Chickamauga,  at  which  a  full  organization  was 
effected,  and  incorporators  and  directors  elected. 
During  the  following  winter  when  the  association 
was  discussing  the  question  of  asking  Congress  to 
aid  in  the  purchase  of  the  battlefield,  the  idea  of 
enlarging  the  scheme  so  as  to  include  the  fields  of 
Lookout  Mountain,  Missionary  Kidge,  and  the  less- 
er affairs  of  the  battle  of  Chattanooga,  and  estab- 
lish the  whole  as  a  National  Park  under  Govern- 
ment control,  was  conceived.  A  bill  was  drawn 
authorizing  the  purchase  of  the  entire  field  of 
Chickamauga  and  its  approaches,  consisting  of  the 
main  roads  leading  to  and  through  the  field,  and 


GLIMPSES  OF  CH1CKAMAUGA.  19 

thence  over  Lookout  Mountain,  by  the  Govern- 
ment. The  bill  was  presented  to  the  House  of 
Representatives  by  General  Chas.  A.  Grosvenor, 
and  was  passed  without  a  dissenting  vote  after 
a  discussion  of  only  twenty-three  minutes.  In  the 
Senate  the  bill  met  with  the  same  success.  It  was 
read  by  Gen.  Anson  G.  McCook,  one  of  the  most 
gallant  officers  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  a 
participator  in  the  battle  of  Lookout  Mountain. 
The  bill  passed  in  twenty  minutes,  not  one  vote 
against  it  being  cast.  The  bill  provides  for  the 
purchase  of  fifteen  square  miles  of  the  Chicka- 
mauga  field  and  the  establishment  of  a  National 
Park  thereon. 

This  park  consists  of  two  parts,  the  approaches 
and  the  park  proper.  The  approaches  near  Chick- 
amauga  are  mainly  roads  over  which  the  armies 
reached  and  left  the  field.  Those  in  the  vicinity  of 
Chattanooga  lie  mainly  along  the  lines  of  battle. 
Those  over  the  Lookout  cross  Hooker's  battlefield, 
while  the  crest  road  along  Missionary  Ridge  fol- 
lows Bragg's  line  of  battle  in  front  of  General 
Thomas'  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  and  General 
Sherman's  Army  of  the  Tennessee.  The  ap- 
proaches as  well  as  the  roads  in  the  park  proper 
have  been  rebuilt  in  the  most  substantial  manner 
by  the  Government.  The  Lafayette  Road  from 
Rossville  to  Lee  and  Gordon's  Mill,  and  the  Crest 


20  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

Road  are  constructed  on  a  right  of  way  of  fifty 
feet.  From  Sherman  Heights  the  drive  over  this 
beautiful  boulevard  to  Glass  Mill,  which  was  the 
Confederate  left  flank  in  the  battle  of  Chicka- 
mauga,  is  twenty  miles.  Over  eight  miles  of  its 
extent  from  the  northern  extremity  of  Missionary 
Ridge  to  Rossville  the  scenery  itself  will  give  a 
national  reputation  to  the  drive.  This  drive  be- 
comes one  that  is  without  parallel  when  to  the 
remarkable  charms  of  river,  city  and  mountain  we 
add  a  distinct  view  of  the  battlefields  of  Mission- 
ary Ridge,  Orchard  Knob  and  Lookout  Mountain. 
Through  the  center  and  touching  both  flanks  of 
the  Chickamauga  field  run  the  remaining  twelve 
miles  of  the  boulevard,  and  the  whole  passes 
through,  or  in  plain  view  of  the  fighting  ground 
of  the  five-days  battle  between  the  two  armies. 
When  the  boulevard  is  completed  every  important 
point  of  action  will  be  illustrated  by  historical 
tablets  or  monuments,  or  both,  like  the  other  roads 
and  approaches  of  the  park.  The  site  of  Bragg's 
headquarters  on  Missionary  Ridge,  and  about 
three  acres  surrounding  it,  is  in  possession  of  the 
Government.  A  spur  of  the  ridge,  which  juts  out 
toward  Chattanooga  opposite  the  left  line  of  as- 
sault of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  has  also 
been  purchased.  From  this  tract,  which  contains 
five  and  one-half  acres,  can  be  seen  the  face  of  the 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  21 

ridge  to  a  point  within  a  division  front  of  the  right 
line  of  assault.  A  tower  of  observation  has  been 
erected  upon  each  of  these  tracts.  In  addition  to 
these  the  whole  of  Orchard  Knob  has  also  been 
acquired  by  the  Government.  This  was  the  head- 
quarters of  the  Union  Generals  Grant,  Thomas 
and  Gordon  Granger,  during  the  battle  of  Mission- 
ary Eidge.  It  is  half  way  between  Chattanooga 
and  the  ridge,  and  is  an  isolated  knoll  standing 
about  sixty  feet  above  the  plain,  and  is  in  extent 
about  six  acres.  The  general  appearance  remains 
unchanged,  and  the  works  erected  by  both  armies 
are  still  well  denned.  The  boundaries  of  the  park 
proper  are  these: 

The  northern  boundary  is  a  line  crossing  the  La- 
fayette Road  near  to  and  north  of  the  Cloud  House, 
and  extending  from  McFarland's  Gap  Road  to  the 
Chickamauga  River.  It  is  bounded  on  the  east  by 
the  Chickamauga  River.  Its  southern  boundary  is 
the  road  from  Lee  &  Gordon's  Mill  to  Crawfish 
Springs,  and  its  western  boundary  is  the  Crawfish 
Springs  Road  from  Lee  &  Gordon's  Mill  Road  to 
McFarland's  Gap.  The  features  of  the  Chicka- 
mauga fields,  except  the  growth  of  timber,  have 
changed  but  little  since  the  battle.  In  the  exten- 
sive woods  where  the  heavy  fighting  occurred 
there  have  been  few  clearings.  But  heavy  tim- 
ber has  grown  up  in  several  of  the  fields  in  these 


22  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

forests,  making  the  first  studies  of  the  lines  quite 
perplexing.  The  whole  field  is  to  be  restored  to 
its  original  condition  as  nearly  as  is  possible.  This 
necessitates  the  replanting  of  clearings  so  that 
they  may  grow  up  forests,  and  the  cutting  out  of 
recent  growths  of  timber.  Koads  opened  since  the 
battle  have  been  closed  and  abandoned,  and  the 
roads  which  were  battle  lines  have  been  reopened 
and  improved.  The  clearing  out  of  the  under- 
brush is  the  only  natural  feature  which  has  been 
changed.  In  order  to  show  the  topography  of  the 
field  and  bring  the  lines  of  battle  into  view  this 
could  not  be  avoided.  Carriages  can  now  drive 
through  the  great  forests  in  all  directions  and 
along  the  lines  of  battle. 

Up  to  the  present  time  there  have  been  erected 
at  prominent  points  of  the  park  five  observation 
towers  of  iron  and  steel,  each  eighty  feet  in  height. 
Two  of  these  are  on  Missionary  Ridge  and  three 
on  the  Chickamauga  field.  Of  the  latter,  one  is 
near  Jay's  Saw  Mill,  where  the  battle  really 
began,  one  is  near  Hall's  Ford  on  the  ground 
where  Bragg's  army  first  formed  for  battle,  and 
the  third  is  on  Snodgrass  Hill.  The  towers  indi- 
cate the  relative  positions  of  the  various  points  of 
the  fields  of  Chickamauga  and  Chattanooga,  and 
are  in  sight  of  each  other.  By  the  views  afforded 
from  them  the  strategy  of  the  movements  of  the 


.       GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  23 

battles  are  readily  understood.  The  lines  of  bat- 
tle are  to  be  designated  by  historical  tablets  and 
monuments.  The  Government  erects  the  tablets 
and  monuments  to  the  regular  regiments  and  bat- 
teries. To  the  States  is  left  the  erection  of  monu- 
ments to  mark  the  position  of  volunteer  troops. 
The  historical  tablets  are  each  3x4  feet  and  are 
of  iron,  with  the  lettering  cast  as  part  of  the  plate. 
They  are  of  several  classes  and  are  designated  to 
show  the  different  organized  commands — the 
corps,  divisions  and  brigades,  carrying  the  organi- 
zations to  the  individual  regiments  and  batteries 
with  their  commanders  in  the  engagements.  The 
staff  tablets  give  the  names  of  the  respective  staff 
officers.  On  each  historical  tablet  there  are  from 
two  to  four  hundred  text  words  setting  forth  in 
brief,  yet  comprehensive  form,  the  movements  of 
troops  at  the  points  where  they  are  placed.  In  the 
erection  of  these  tablets  both  Union  and  Confed- 
erate are  given  equal  attention.  The  only  differ- 
ence is  the  letter  "U"  for  Union  in  the  upper  right 
hand  corner  and  the  letter  "C"  for  Confederate. 
Specimen  tablets  will  be  found  elsewhere  in  this 
book.  There  are  also  guide  tablets  at  road  cross- 
ings giving  the  directions  and  distances  to  all 
points  of  the  field  as  well  as  locality  tablets  show- 
ing where  notable  captures  of  prisoners  or  guns  oc- 
curred, and  the  points  where  prominent  officers 


24  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

were  wounded,  and  marking  the  sites  of  houses 
and  fields  which  were  landmarks  in  the  battle. 
The  chief  of  ordnance,  Gen.  D.  W.  Flagler,  with 
his  assistant,  Captain  V.  McNally,  secured  enough 
old  guns  from  the  stock  on  hand  at  the  various  ar- 
senals to  carry  out  the  plan  of  marking  the  fight- 
ing positions  of  all  batteries  as  they  are  identified, 
by  guns  of  the  same  kind  used  in  the  battle  by  the 
battery.  These  guns  will  be  mounted  upon  cast- 
iron  carriages,  painted  so  as  to  be  an  exact  repre- 
sentation of  the  carriage  of  1861.  Triangular 
pyramids  of  eight-inch  shells  ten  feet  in  height 
mark  the  spot  where  general  officers  were  killed 
or  wounded.  A  tablet  on  each  gives  name,  rank, 
and  army  of  the  officer  killed.  There  were  eight  of 
these  commanding  brigades,  namely,  Colonel  Hans 
C.  Heg,  Brigadier-General  Wm.  H.  Lytle,  Colonels 
Edward  A.  King  and  Philemon  P.  Baldwin  on  the 
Union  side,  and  Brigadier-General  Preston  Smith, 
Brigadier-General  Ben  Hardin  Helm,  Brigadier- 
General  Jas.  Deshler,  and  Col.  Payton  H.  Colquitt 
on  the  Confederate.  In  various  parts  of  the  field 
the  lines  of  rude  works  used  by  each  side  have 
been  found  and  are  to  be  restored.  The  lines  of 
each  day's  battle  are  being  marked.  The  regi- 
mental monuments  are  placed  where  the  repre- 
sentatives of  the  regiments  think  the  most  notable 
record  was  made.  Granite  markers  will  designate 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  25 

other  positions.  The  first  to  erect  them  is  the  Ohio 
Commission.  Those  adopted  by  them  are  fifteen 
inches  square  and  three  feet  high.  One  face  is  pol- 
ished to  receive  the  designation  of  the  organiza- 
tion and  the  time  it  occupied  the  position.  The 
park  when  completed  will  be  an  interesting  study 
to  lovers  of  military  history  as  the  field  is  being 
thoroughly  marked  so  that  the  movements  of 
every  regiment  and  battery  can  be  followed 
through  the  battle,  as  well  as  the  general  move- 
ment. Forty-four  acres  at  the  north  end  of  Mis- 
sionary Kidge,  including  the  points  assaulted  by 
the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  under  General  Sher- 
man, and  the  Tunnel  Hill  position,  defended  by 
General  Hardee,  have  also  been  purchased  by  the 
Park  Commission. 


26  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

GUIDE  TO  CHICKAMAUGA  PARK. 

Leaving  Chattanooga  for  Chickamauga  via  the 
Lafayette  Road,  the  first  point  of  military  inter- 
est is 

ROSSVILLE, 

A  small  village  situated  near  the  base  of  Mis- 
sionary Ridge,  where  the  wagon  road  enters  Ross- 
ville  Gap.  The  old  McFarland  house  (now  Govern- 
ment property)  was  used  by  Generals  Rosecrans 
and  Crittenden  as  headquarters  immediately  fol- 
lowing Bragg's  evacuation  of  Chattanooga.  To 
this  point  the  Union  army  withdrew  during  the 
night  of  September  20th.  Tablets  containing  mili- 
tary texts  describing  movements  of  troops  are 
posted  here.  The  next  point  of  interest  is 

BATTERY   HILL. 

Here  General  Thomas  stationed  his  command 
and  held  in  check  the  Confederate  forces  after  the 
battle,  while  the  Federal  forces  were  falling  back 
to  Chattanooga  under  General  Rosecrans,  Septem- 
ber 20th.  Two  miles  from  Battery  Hill,  still  fol- 
lowing the  Lafayette  Road,  we  reach 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  27 


CLOUD  HOUSE  AND  SPRINGS, 

Where  the  Union  hospital  was  established  Sep- 
tember 18th.  From  the  Government  tablet  at  the 
roadside  there  is  a  well-beaten  path  to  the  springs 
a  few  rods  distant.  Just  opposite  the  spring  is  the 
old  church  which  was  also  used  as  a  hospital.  A 
further  drive  of  a  few  minutes  brings  us  to  the 
site  of  the 

MCDONALD'S  HOUSE. 

Here  the  Park  Commission  has  placed  a  number 
of  guns.  Tablets  are  also  placed  here  telling  of  the 
terrific  fighting  done  on  this  field.  The  first  guns 
of  Sunday  morning  were  heard  from  this  point, 
and  after  the  struggles  of  the  day  on  various 
points  of  the  field  the  last  guns  were  fired  near  the 
McDonald  House.  Three-fourths  of  a  mile  from 
here  two  roads  diverge  from  the  main  road.  Tak- 
ing the  one  to  the  left  we  pass  the  north  line  of  the 

KELLY   FIELD 

And  have  a  splendid  view  of  the  old  log  works  of 
the  Union  left,  as  well  as  the  granite  monuments 
that  mark  the  battle  line.  One  mile  further  east  is 


28  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

JAY'S  MILL 

Which  was  the  extreme  right  of  the  Confederate 
lines  when  the  battle  opened  on  Saturday  morn- 
ing, September  19th.  The  continuation  of  this 
road  leads  to 

REED'S  BRIDGE, 

Where  Minty's  cavalry  opposed  the  crossing  of  the 
Confederate  troops  on  September  18th,  thus  delay- 
ing the  battle  of  Chickamauga  until  the  morning 
of  the  19th.  Near  the  site  of  Jay's  Mill  will  be  seen 
a  number  of  fine  granite  monuments  and  an  old 
spring  marked  by  a  pile  of  rock  where  many  of  the 
boys  of  both  armies  filled  their  canteens.  From 
this  mill  site  the  Government  drive  leads  south  to 

ALEXANDER'S  BRIDGE 

Which  was  captured  by  Walthall's  Brigade  of 
Liddell's  Division,  September  18th,  with  a  loss  of 
one  hundred  and  five  men,  only  to  find  it  useless, 
as  Wilder's  men  had  torn  up  the  floor  while  under 
fire.  Near  the  bridge  is  the  old 

ALEXANDER  FARMHOUSE 

And  the  ruins  of  the  old  blacksmith  shop.  About 
10  o'clock  on  Saturday,  September  19th,  Wilson 
and  Ector's  Brigades  were  called  from  this  point 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  29 

to  the  assistance  of  Forrest  at  Jay's  Mill.  Follow- 
ing the  Alexander  and  Lee  &  Gordon's  Mill  Road 
about  a  mile  from  the  Alexander  house,  the  road 
forks.  The  drive  to  the  left  leads  eighty  rods  to 
the  old  Thedford  House,  where  the  Government 
has  erected  one  of  the  large  steel  towers.  The  one 
to  the  right  leads  to  the 

VINIARD  HOUSE  AND  FIELD 

On  the  Lafayette  Road,  where  the  heavy  fighting 
of  Saturday  afternoon  occurred.  Colonel  Heg  of 
the  Union,  and  General  Trigg  of  the  Confederate 
forces  were  killed  in  this  engagement  at  about  4 
p.  m.  Many  beautiful  granite  monuments  adorn 
this  field,  erected  by  both  the  United  States  Gov- 
ernment and  the  various  States  in  honor  of  the 
troops  who  were  engaged  there.  The  old  house  is 
in  good  repair  and  is  occupied  by  Major  Lyman,  a 
very  pleasant  gentleman,  superintendent  of  the 
park,  and  a  Confederate  veteran  of  Hindman's 
command.  From  this  point  on  either  side  of  the 
Lafayette  Road  for  one-half  mile  granite  monu- 
ments are  placed,  and  the  trees,  scarred  by  shot 
and  shell,  are  the  stern  indications  of  war.  One 
mile  and  a  half  south  of  Viniard  house  on  the  La- 
fayette Road  is 


30  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

LEE  &  GORDON'S  MILL. 

The  old  figuring  mill  has  changed  but  little 
since  the  war.  In  this  vicinity  west  of  the  Chicka- 
mauga,  Crittenden's  Corps  was  concentrated  on 
September  16th.  On  the  17th  Bragg  moved  a  por- 
tion of  his  army  northward  and  bivouacked  a  short 
distance  southeast  of  the  mill.  The  Lafayette 
Road  continuing  south  crosses  the  Chickamauga 
Creek  near  the  mill.  The  Government  drive 
leaves  the  Lafayette  Road  here,  bearing  south- 
west to 

.       CRAWFISH  SPRINGS. 

This  spring  will  be  visited  with  special  interest 
by  the  old  soldiers  of  Thomas'  and  McCook's  com- 
mands, who,  weary  and  footsore,  on  their  all-night 
march,  halted  here  to  fill  their  canteens  and  re- 
fresh themselves  with  a  cooling  drink  of  this  spark- 
ling water  while  pushing  their  way  to  the  Union 
left  on  the  night  of  September  18th.  The  old 
wheel,  though  not  in  use,  will  be  seen  near  the 
banks.  A  heavy  wall  of  masonry  now  confines  the 
waters  of  the  spring,  which  are  utilized  in  driving 
water  works  and  electric  light  machinery  for  the 
Park  Hotel,  which  has  been  erected  near  it.  The 
large  old  house  occupied  by  General  Rosecrans  as 


THE  ROCK  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  31 

headquarters  September  16th  to  19th,  and  the  hos- 
pital grounds  around  it,  will  be  readily  identified 
as  few  changes  have  been  made.  A  railroad  has 
been  built  through  the  battlefield  since  the  war 
and  a  station  established  near  the  springs,  called 
Chickamauga  Station;  also,  one  in  the  dry  valley 
called  Battle  Station,  near  the  spot  where  Gen- 
eral Lytle  was  killed.  In  perusing  the  history  of 
the  battle  the  reader  will  notice  that  the  troops  of 
Thomas  and  McCook  entered  the  field  from  the  de- 
files of  the  mountains  via  Crawfish  Springs.  Fol- 
lowing the  Government  drive  north  from  the 
springs  three  miles  we  reach  the 

OLD  HOMESTEAD  OF  THE  WIDOW  GLENN. 

This  house  in  the  time  of  the  war  was  an  humble 
log  cabin,  situated  upon  a  beautiful  knoll  studded 
with  stately  pines.  Here  on  the  night  of  the  19th, 
General  Rosecrans  held  counsel  with  his  staff  and 
general  officers;  conspicuous  among  them  was  our 
lamented  Garfield.  On  this  site  a  large  monu- 
ment of  Georgia  granite  is  in  process  of  erection. 
by  the  survivors  of  General  Wilder's  Brigade  of 
mounted  infantry.  No  more  imposing  monument 
will  be  found  upon  the  ground;  its  dimensions  are 
a  sixteen-foot  base  with  winding  steps  to  the  top, 
seventy  feet  to  the  platform.  Eighty  rods  north 
of  the  Widow  Glenn's  the  road  passes 


32  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

BLOODY    POND. 

This  name  originated  from  the  fact  that  the 
wounded  from  various  parts  of  the  iield  were 
brought  there  to  be  washed,  causing  the  waters  to 
assume  a  crimson  hue.  The  timber  which  sur- 
rounded the  pond  at  the  time  of  battle  has  since 
been  cleared  away  Here  the  Blue  and  the  Gray 
met,  and  in  the  presence  of  wounds  and  death  all 
differences  were  forgotten.  A  short  drive  north- 
ward brings  us  to  Battle  Station  where  the  guns 
and  all  freight  shipped  to  the  park  are  unloaded. 
From  this  station  can  be  seen  the  flag  floating 
from  its  staff  at  the  Dyer  house  eighty  rods  dis- 
tant, which  is  the  present  headquarters  of  the 
Park  Commission.  Continuing  from  the  Dyer 
house  one-half  mile  east  we  reach  the 

BROTHERTON  FARMHOUSE 

Situated  on  the  Lafayette  Road.  The  log  house 
and  its  surroundings  present  a  deserted  appear- 
ance. Several  gun  carriages  will  be  seen  in  the 
yard  near  the  house  with  muzzles  pointing  east- 
ward. These  represent  Yankee  guns.  The  Union 
lines  fronted  the  Lafayette  Eoad  on  Sunday  morn- 
ing with  Wood's  Division  a  few  rods  in  the  rear  of 
the  house  awaiting  the  attack  of  B.  R.  Johnson's 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  33 

Division  of  Long-street's  Corps,  whose  lines  could 
be  seen  a  short  distance  eastward  in  the  wood. 
The  Brotherton  house  will  be  remembered  in  his- 
tory as  the  scene  of  Longstreet's  dash  into  the 
Union  lines  and  the  disastrous  break  of  the  Union 
center  and  rout  of  its  right  wing.  Eighty  rods 
north  of  the  Brotherton  house  fronting  west  is  the 

POE  PLACE. 

This  was  the  scene  of  some  of  the  heaviest  fight- 
ing on  the  20th.  Here  the  right  of  Thomas'  line 
was  struck  by  Johnson's  and  Stewart's  Divisions, 
which  thoroughly  tested  the  steel  of  Reynolds  and 
Brannan.  The  house  was  burned  during  the  bat- 
tle. It  was  used  as  a  hospital  and  a  number  of 
wounded  were  burned  in  the  building.  The  well 
was  used  as  a  receptacle  for  amputated  limbs  and 
is  known  as  "Bloody  well."  A  few  minutes'  drive 
along  the  Lafayette  Road  brings  us  to  the  south- 
west corner  of  the  Kelly  field.  Here  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  19th,  General  Palmer,  with  Hazen  and 
Grose's  Brigades,  engaged  in  a  fierce  hand-to-hand 
fight  with  Stewart's  men,  in  which  both  sides  lost 
heavily.  Shell  monuments  will  be  seen  here  to 
King  of  the  Union,  and  Deshler  of  the  Confeder- 
ate forces,  both  commanding  brigades.  The  Kelly 
field  is  the  central  point  of  the  heaviest  fighting 
of  the  Chickamauga  battle.  Near  the  northwest 


34  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

corner  of  the  field  is  a  graveled  driveway  indicat- 
ing the  line  over  which  Van  Der veer's  Brigade  of 
Brannan's  Division  marched  to  the  assistance  of 
the  forces  on  Snodgrass  Hill,  on  Sunday,  after  his 
heroic  charge  on  Stovall  and  Adam's  Brigades  of 
Breckenridge's  Division,  driving  them  back  and 
saving  the  Union  left  at  a  time  when  it  seemed  to 
be  fatally  enveloped.  This  driveway  leading 
through  the  pines  one-half  mile  from  the  Lafayette 
Road  brings  us  to  the  eastern  slope  of 

HORSESHOE   RIDGE, 

Where  General  Thomas  so  richly  earned  the  Na- 
tion's gratitude  and  the  title  of  "The  Hock  of 
Chickamauga."  This  ridge  is  too  short  to  bear  the 
inscriptions  or  eulogies  which  should  be  written 
upon  it  to  Brannan,  Harker,  Hazeu,  Granger,  Van 
Derveer,  Croxton,  Connell,  Stanley  and  Wood,  who 
withstood  the  desperate  and  continued  assaults  of 
Longstreet,  Johnson,  Hindman,  Kershaw,  Preston, 
Robinson,  Hood,  Stewart,  Gracie,  Kelly  and  Mani- 
gault,  as  brave  and  determined  men  as  ever  drew 
a  sword.  What  can  be  said  in  honor  of  the  private 
soldiers  on  either  side  who  fought  as  only  Ameri- 
cans can  fight  in  defense  of  principles  which  came 
to  them  by  inheritance?  Let  this  statement  suf- 
fice: "The  Union  soldiers  held  the  ridge.  The  Con- 
federate soldiers  charged  and  repeated  the  charges 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  35 

until  the  hillside  was  slippery  with  their  blood." 
Can  the  human  mind  conceive  of  heroism  more  sub- 
lime than  this?  When  the  sable  curtains  of  night 
closed  in  upon  this  bloody  scene  the  weary  Confed- 
erates bivouacked  near  the  scene  of  battle,  while 
the  Union  forces  withdrew  through  McFarland's 
Gap  to  liossville. 


36  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 


CHAPTER  V. 
ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  CUMBERLAND. 


GENERAL  HEADQUARTERS. 

First  Battalion  Ohio  Sharpshooters;  Tenth  Ohio 
Infantry;  Fifteenth  Pennsylvania  Cavalry. 

GENERAL  HEADQUARTERS,  FOURTEENTH  ARMY 

CORPS. 
Major-General    George    H.    Thomas. 

Provost  Guard,  Ninth  Michigan  Infantry, 
Colonel  J.  G.  Parklmrst;  escort,  First  Ohio  Cav- 
alry, Company  I,  Captain  John  D.  Barker. 

FIRST  DIVISION,  FOURTEENTH  CORPS. 
Brigadier-General  Absalom  Baird. 

First  Brigade,  Colonel  Benj.  F.  Scribner — Thir- 
ty-eighth Indiana,  Second  Ohio,  Thirty-third  Ohio, 
Ninety-fourth  Ohio,  Tenth  Wisconsin,  First  Mich- 
igan. 

Second  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  J.  B.  Stark- 
weather— Twenty-fourth  Illinois,  Seventy-ninth 
Pennsylvania,  First  Wisconsin,  Twenty-first  Mich- 
igan, Indiana  Light  Fourth  Battery. 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  37 

Third  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  John  H.  King 
—Fifteenth  United  States,  First  Battalion;  Six- 
teenth United  States,  First  Battalion;  Eighteenth 
United  States,  First  Battalion ;  Eighteenth  United 
States,  Second  Battalion;  Nineteenth  United 
States,  First  Battalion;  Fifth  United  States  Artil- 
lery, Battery  H. 

SECOND  DIVISION,  FOURTEENTH  CORPS. 
Major-General  James  S.  Negley. 

First  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  John  Beatty 
— One  Hundred  and  Fourth  Illinois,  Forty-second 
Indiana,  Eighty-eighth  Indiana,  Fifteenth  Ken- 
tucky, Illinois  Light,  Bridge's  Battery  I. 

Second  Brigade,  Colonel  Timothy  R.  Stanley, 
Colonel  William  L.  Stoughton — Nineteenth  Illi- 
nois, Eleventh  Michigan,  Eighteenth  Ohio,  Ohio 
Light,  Battery  M. 

Third  Brigade,  Colonel  William  Sirwell— Thir- 
ty-seventh Indiana,  Twenty-lirst  Ohio,  Seventy- 
fourth  Ohio,  Seventy-eighth  Pennsylvania,  First 
Ohio  Light,  Battery  G. 

THIRD  DIVISION,  FOURTEENTH  CORPS. 
Brigadier-General  John  Brannan. 

First  Brigade,  Colonel  John  M.  Connell — 
Eighty-second  Indiana,  Seventeenth  Ohio,  Thirty- 
first  Ohio,  Thirty-eighth  Ohio,  First  Michigan 
Light,  Battery  D. 

448062 


38  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

Second  Brigade,  Colonel  John  T.  Croxton, 
Colonel  Chas.  W.  Chapman,  Colonel  William  H. 
Hays — Tenth  Indiana,  Seventy-fourth  Indiana, 
Fourth  Kentucky,  Tenth  Kentucky,  Fourteenth 
Ohio,  First  Ohio  Light,  Battery  C. 

Third  Brigade,  Colonel  Ferdinand  Van  Derveer 
—Eighty-seventh  Indiana,  Second  Minnesota, 
Ninth  Ohio,  Thirty-fifth  Ohio,  Fourth  United 
States  Artillery,  Battery  I. 

FOURTH  DIVISION,   FOURTEENTH   CORPS. 
Major-General  Joseph  J.  Reynolds. 

First  Brigade,  Colonel  John  T.  Wilder — Ninety- 
second  Illinois,  Ninety-eighth  Illinois,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Twenty-third  Illinois,  Seventeenth  Indi- 
ana, Seventy-second  Indiana. 

Second  Brigade,  Colonel  Edward  A.  King, 
Colonel  Milton  S.  Kobinson — Sixty-eighth  Indiana, 
Seventy-fifth  Indiana,  One  Hundred  and  First  In- 
diana, One  Hundred  and  Fifth  Ohio,  Indiana 
Light,  Nineteenth  Battery. 

Third  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  John  B.  Tur- 
chin — Eighteenth  Kentucky,  Eleventh  Ohio, 
Thirty-sixth  Ohio,  Ninety-second  Ohio,  Indiana 
Light,  Twenty-first  Battery. 


GLIMPSES  OP  CHICKAMAUGA.  39 

TWENTIETH  ARMY  CORPS. 

Major-General  Alexander  M.  McCook. 

GENERAL  HEADQUARTERS. 

Provost  Guard,  Eighty-first  Indiana  Infantry, 
Company  H,  Captain  Wm.  J.  Richards;  escort, 
Second  Kentucky  Cavalry,  Company  I,  Lieutenant 
Geo.  H.  Batman. 

FIRST   DIVISION,   TWENTIETH   CORPS. 
Brigadier-General  Jefferson  C.  Davis. 

First  Brigade,  Colonel  P.  Sidney  Post — Fifty- 
ninth  Illinois,  Seventy-fourth  Illinois,  Seventy- 
fifth  Illinois,  Twenty-second  Indiana,  Wisconsin 
Light  Artillery,  Fifth  Battery. 

Second  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  Wm.  P.  Car- 
lin — Twenty-first  Illinois,  Thirty-eighth  Illinois, 
Eighty-first  Indiana,  One  Hundred  and  First  Ohio, 
*  Minnesota  Light  Artillery,  Second  Battery. 

Third  Brigade,  Colonel  Hans  C.  Heg,  Colonel 
John  A.  Martin— Twenty-fifth  Illinois,  Thirty- 
fifth  Illinois,  Eighth  Kansas,  Fifteenth  Wiscon- 
sin, Wisconsin  Light  Artillery,  Eighth  Battery. 

SECOND  DIVISION. 
Brigadier-General   Richard  W.  Johnson. 

First  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  August  Wil- 
lich — Eighty-ninth  Illinois,  Thirty-second  Illinois, 
Thirty-ninth  Indiana,  Fifteenth  Ohio,  Forty-ninth 
Ohio,  First  Ohio  Light  Artillery,  Battery  A. 


40  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

Second  Brigade,  Colonel  Jos.  B.  Dodge — Seven- 
tj'-ninth  Illinois,  Twenty-ninth  Indiana,  Thirtieth 
Indiana,  Seventy-seventh  Pennsylvania,  Ohio 
Light  Artillery,  Twentieth  Battery. 

Third  Brigade,  Colonel  Philemon  P.  Baldwin, 
Colonel  Wm.  W.  Berry— Sixth  Indiana,  Fifth  Ken- 
tucky, First  Ohio,  Ninety-third  Ohio,  Indiana 
Light  Artillery,  Fifth  Battery. 

THIRD  DIVISION. 
Major-General  Phil.  H.  Sheridan. 

First  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  Wm.  H.  Lytle, 
Colonel  Silas  Miller — Thirty-sixth  Illinois,  Eighty- 
eighth  Illinois,  Twenty-first  ^Michigan,  Twenty- 
fourth  Wisconsin,  Indiana  Light  Artillery,  Elev- 
enth Batten- . 

Second   Brigade,   Colonel    Bernard   Liaboldt— 
Forty-fourth  Illinois,  Seventy-third   Illinois,   Sec- 
ond Missouri,  Fifteenth  Missouri,  First   Missouri 
Light  Artillery,  Battery  G. 

Third  Brigade,  Colonel  Luther  P.  Bradley, 
Colonel  Nathan  H.  Walworth — Twenty-second 
Illinois,  Twenty-seventh  Illinois,  Forty-second  Il- 
linois, Fifty-first  Illinois,  First  Illinois  Light  Ar- 
tillery, Battery  C. 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  41 

TWENTY-FIRST    ARMY    CORPS. 

Major-General  Thomas  L.  Crittenden. 

GENERAL  HEADQUARTERS. 

Escort,  Fifteenth  Illinois  Cavalry,  Company  K, 
Captain  Samuel  B.  Sherer. 

FIRST   DIVISION. 
Brigadier-General  Thomas  J.  Wood. 

First  Brigade,  Colonel  Geo.  P.  Buell — One  Hun- 
dredth Illinois,  Fifty-eighth  Indiana*  Thirteenth 
Michigan,  Twenty-sixth  Ohio,  Indiana  Light  Ar- 
tillery, Eighth  Battery. 

Second  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  Geo.  D. 
Wagner — Fifteenth  Indiana,  Fortieth  Indiana, 
Fifty-seventh  Indiana,  Ninety-seventh  Ohio,  In- 
diana Light  Artillery,  Tenth  Battery. 

Third  Brigade,  Colonel  Chas.  G.  Barker— Third 
Kentucky,  Sixty-fourth  Ohio,  Sixty-fifth  Ohio,  One 
Hundred  and  Twenty-fifth  Ohio,  Ohio  Light  Artil- 
lery, Sixth  Battery. 

• 

SECOND  DIVISION. 
Major-General  John  M.   Palmer. 

First  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  Charles  Cruft 
—Thirty-first   Indiana,   First    Kentucky,   Second 
Kentucky,  Ninetieth  Ohio,  First  Ohio  Light,  Bat- 
tery B. 


42  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

Second  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  Win.  H.  Ha- 
zen — Ninth  Indiana,  Sixth  Kentucky,  Forty-first 
Ohio,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fourth  Ohio,  First 
Ohio  Light,  Battery  F. 

Third  Brigade,  Colonel  Wm.  Grose — Eighty- 
fourth  Illinois,  Thirty-sixth  Indiana,  Twenty-third 
Kentucky,  Sixth  Ohio,  Twenty-fourth  Ohio, 
Fourth  United  States  Artillery,  Battery  H,  Fourth 
United  States  Artillery,  Battery  M. 

THIRD  DIVISION. 
Brigadier-General  Horatio  P.  Van  Cleve. 

First  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  Samuel  Beatty 
—Seventy-ninth  Indiana,  Ninth  Kentucky,  Seven- 
teenth Kentucky,  Nineteenth  Ohio,  Pennsylvania 
Light,  Twenty-sixth  Battery. 

Second  Brigade,  Colonel  Geo.  F.  Dick — Forty- 
fourth  Indiana,  Eighty-sixth  Indiana,  Thirteenth 
Ohio,  Fifty-ninth  Ohio,  Indiana  Light,  Seventh 
Battery. 

Third  Brigade,  Colonel  Sidne}-  M.  Barnes — Thir- 
ty-fifth Indiana,  Eighth  Kentucky,  Twenty-first 
Kentucky,  Fifty-first  Ohio,  Ninety-ninth  Ohio, 
Wisconsin  Light,  Third  Battery. 


GEN.   THOS.   L.   CRITTENDEN 

I      7  AS  born  in  Kentucky  in   1819.      Served  under  General 

*"  •"      Taylor  in  the  \var  against  Mexico.     Was  U.  S.  Consul  at 

Liverpool  under  Taylor's  administration.     In  September,  1861, 

was  made  a  Brigadier-general.      For  gallantry  in  the  battle  of 

v 
Shiloh  he  was  promoted  to  Major-general   of  Volunteers,   and 

later  served  under  Rosecrans  at  Stone  River  and  Chickamauga, 
where  he  commanded  the  21  st  Army  Corps.  In  18G5  he  was 
brevetted  Major-general  U.  S.  Army. 


GENERAL  ALEXANDER   McDOWELL   McCOOK 

WAS  born  in  Ohio  in  1831.     Graduated  at  West  Point  in  1852. 
Served  in  the  war  against  the  Indians  in  New  Mexico  in 
1857.     From  1858   to   1861    was  Assistant  Instructor  of 
Tactics  at  West  Point,  and  was  Colonel  of  an  Ohio  regiment  at 
the   battle  of  Bull  Run.      In  September,   1861,  he  was  made 
Brigadier-g»neral  of   Volunteers,  and    Major-general   in  1862, 
having  distinguished  himself  at  Shiloh  and  Corinth.     He  fought 
in  the  battle  of  Perryville  in  command  of  the  1st  Corps  of  the 
Army  of  the  Ohio,  and  commanded  the  right  wing  in  the  battle 
at  Stone  River.      He  was  afterwards  in  command  of  the  20th 
Army  Corps  and  fought  in  the  battle  of  Chickamauga  in  1 863. 
Sixteen  members  of   this  family  were  in  the  Union  Army 
during  the  Civil  War, 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  43 

RESERVE  CORPS. 
Major-General  Gordon  Granger. 

FIRST   DIVISION. 
Brigadier-General  James  B.  Steadman. 

First  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  Walter  C. 
Whitaker,  Ninety-sixth  Illinois,  One  Hundred  and 
Fifteenth  Illinois,  Eighty-fourth  Indiana,  Twenty- 
second  Michigan,  Fortieth  Ohio,  Eighty-ninth 
Ohio,  Ohio  Light  Artillery,  Eighteenth  Battery. 

Second  Brigade,  Colonel  John  G.  Mitchell — Sev- 
enty-eighth Illinois,  Ninety-eighth  Ohio,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Thirteenth  Ohio,  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-first  Ohio,  First  Illinois  Light  Artillery, 
Battery  M. 

SECOND  DIVISION. 
Brigadier-General  James  D.  Morgan. 

Second  Brigade,  Colonel  Daniel  McCook — Eigh- 
ty-fifth Illinois,  Eighty-sixth  Illinois,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Twenty-fifth  Illinois,  Fifty-second  Ohio, 
Sixty-ninth  Ohio,  Second  Illinois  Light  Artillery, 
Battery  I. 


44  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 


CAVALRY  CORPS. 

Brigadier-General    Robert    B.    Mitchell,    Colonel    Edward    M. 
McCook. 

FIRST   DIVISION. 

First  Brigade,  Archibald  P.  Campbell — Second 
Michigan,  Ninth  Pennsylvania,  First  Tennessee. 

Second  Brigade,  Colonel  Daniel  M.  Kay — Sec- 
ond Indiana,  Fourth  Indiana,  Second  Tennessee, 
First  Wisconsin,  First  Ohio  Light  Artillery,  But- 
tery D. 

Third  Brigade,  Colonel  Louis  D.  Watkins— 
Fourth  Kentucky,  Fifth  Kentucky,  Sixth  Ken- 
tucky. 

SECOND  DIVISION. 
Brigadier-General  George  Crook. 

First  Brigade,  Colonel  Robt.  H.  G.  Minty— Third 
Indiana  Battalion,  Fourth  Michigan,  Seventh 
Pennsylvania,  Fourth  United  States,  Chicago 
Board  of  Trade,  One  Section. 

Second  Brigade,  Colonel  Eli  Long — Second  Ken- 
tucky, First  Ohio,  Second  Ohio,  Fourth  Ohio,  Chi- 
cago Board  of  Trade  Battery,  One  Section. 

Organization  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee, 
General  Braxton  Bragg,  C.  S.  A.,  commanding,  at 
the  Battle  of  Chickamauga: 


BRAGG'S  HEADQUARTERS— MISSIONARY  RIDGE. 


GLIMPSES  OP  CHICKAMAUGA.  45 

Escort,  Captain  Guy  Dreaux;  Dreaux's  Com- 
pany Louisiana  Cavalry,  Lieutenant  O.  Du  Bois; 
Holloway's  Company  Alabama  Cavalry,  Captain 
E.  M.  Holloway. 

Eight  Wing,  Lieutenant-General  Leonidas  Polk. 

Escort,  Greenleaf  s  Company  Louisiana  Cav- 
alry, Captain  Leeds  Greenleaf. 

FOLK'S  CORPS. 
Lieutenant-General  Leonidas  Polk. 

CHEATHAM'S  DIVISION,  FOLK'S  CORPS. 
Major-General  Benjamin  Franklin  Cheatham. 

Escort,  Company  G,  Second  Georgia  Cavalry, 
Captain  Thos.  M.  Merritt. 

Jackson's  Brigade,  Brigadier-General   John  K. 
^Jackson — First  Georgia,   Fifth   Georgia,   Second 
Georgia  Sharpshooters,  Fifth  Mississippi,  Eighth 
Mississippi,  Scogin's  (Georgia)  Battery. 

Maney's  Brigade,   Brigadier-General    Maney— 
First      Tennessee,     Twenty-seventh     Tennessee, 
Fourth  Tennessee,  Sixth  Tennessee,  Ninth  Tennes- 
see,    Twenty-fourth     Tennessee     Sharpshooters, 
Smith's  Mississippi  Battery. 

Smith's  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  Preston 
Smith,  Colonel  Alfred  Jefferson  Vaughan,  Jr. — 
Eleventh  Tennessee,  Twelfth  Tennessee,  Forty- 
seventh  Tennessee,  Thirteenth  Tennessee,  One 


46  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

Hundred  and  Fifty-fourth  Tennessee,  Twenty- 
ninth  Tennessee,  Dawson's  Battalion  Sharpshoot- 
ers, Scott's  Tennessee  Battery. 

Wright's  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  Marcus  J. 
Wright — Eighth  Tennessee,  Sixteenth  Tennessee, 
Twenty-eighth  Tennessee,  Thirty-eighth  Tennes- 
see, Fifty-first  Tennessee,  Fifty-second  Tennessee, 
Games'  Tennessee  Battery. 

Strahl's  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  Otto  F. 
Strahl — Fourth  Tennessee,  Fifth  Tennessee,  Nine- 
teenth Tennessee,  Twenty-fourth  Tennessee,  Thir- 
ty-first Tennessee,  Thirty-third  Tennessee,  Stan- 
ford's Mississippi  Battery. 

HINDMAN'S   DIVISION. 

Major-General  Thomas  Carmichael  Hindman,   Brigadier- 
General  Patton  Anderson. 

Escort,  Lenoir's  Company  Alabama  Cavalry, 
Captain  T.  M.  Lenoir. 

Anderson's  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  Patton 
Anderson,  Colonel  J.  H.  Sharp — Seventh  Missis- 
sippi, Ninth  Mississippi,  Tenth  Mississippi,  Forty- 
first  Mississippi,  Forty-fourth  Mississippi,  Ninth 
Mississippi  Battalion  Sharpshooters,  Garrity's 
Alabama  Battery. 

Deas'  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  Zach.  C.  Deas 
—Nineteenth  Alabama,  Twenty-second  Alabama, 
Thirty-fifth  Alabama,  Thirty-ninth  Alabama,  Fif- 


GEN.  DANIEL   H.  HILL.  - 

BORN  in  South  Carolina  in  1822.     Graduated  at  West  Point 
in  1 842.  Was  in  the  Mexican  War,  was  brevetted  Captain 
and  Major;  left  the  army  in  1849,  became  Professor  of 
Mathematics  in   Lexington,  Virginia.    Joined  the  Confederate 
army,  took  part  in  the  defense  of  Richmond  in  1862,  partici- 
pated in  the  "  Seven  Days' Battle,"  soon  rose  to  the  rank  of 
Major-general;  was  ordered  west  with  General  Longstreet  in 
September,  1863,  and  participated  in  the  Battle  of  Chickamauga. 
He  was  a  brother-in-law  of  Stonewall  Jackson,  and  a  skillful 
commander. 


GEN.    LEONIDAS    POLK. 

BORN  in  North  Carolina  in  1806.  Graduated  at  West  Point, 
joined  the  Confederate  army  in  1861,  became  a  Major- 
general,  was  distinguished  for  his  zeal  and  activity,  participated 
in  the  battle  of  Shiloh  in  April,  1862,  and  Stone  River,  December 
29th,  same  year.  Was  in  command  of  the  Confederate  right  at 
the  Battle  of  Chickamauga.  For  disobeying  orders  in  this  battle 
he  was  relieved  of  his  command.  Was  in  temporary  command 
with  Johnston  when  opposing  Sherman's  march  on  Atlanta. 
Was  killed  by  a  cannon  shot  near  Mariette,  Ga.,  in  June,  1864. 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  47 

tieth  Alabama,  Seventeenth  Alabama,  Dent's  Ala- 
bama Battery. 

Manigault's  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  A.  M. 
Manigault — Twenty-fourth  Alabama,  Twenty- 
eighth  Alabama,  Thirty-fourth  Alabama,  Tenth 
South  Carolina,  Nineteenth  South  Carolina, 
Water's  Alabama  Battery. 

HILL'S  CORPS. 
Lieutenant-General  Daniel  M.  Hill. 

CLEBOURNE'S  DIVISION. 
Major-General  Patrick  C.  Clebourne. 

Escort,  Sander's  Company  Tennessee  Cavalry, 
Captain  C.  F.  Sanders. 

Wood's  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  S.  A.  M. 
Wood — Sixteenth  Alabama,  Thirty-third  Ala- 
bama, Forty-fifth  Alabama,  Eighteenth  Alabama, 
Thirty-third  Mississippi,  Forty-fifth  Mississippi, 
Fifteenth  Mississippi  Sharpshooters,  Semple's 
Alabama  Battery. 

Folk's  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  Lucius  E. 
Polk — First  Arkansas,  Third  Confederate,  Fifth 
Confederate,  Second  Tennessee,  Thirty-fifth  Ten- 
nessee, Forty-eighth  Tennessee,  Calvert's  Arkan- 
sas Battery. 

Deshler's  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  Jas.  Desh- 
ler,  Colonel  Roger  Q.  Mills — Nineteenth  Arkansas, 


48  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

Twenty-fourth  Kansas,  Sixteenth  Texas  Infantry, 
Fifteenth  Texas  Cavalry,  Seventeenth  Texas  Cav- 
alry, Eighteenth  Texas  Cavalry,  Twenty-fourth 
Texas  Cavalry,  Twenty-fifth  Texas  Cavalry,  Doug- 
las'  Texas  Battery. 


BRECKINRIDGE'S  DIVISION. 
Major-General  John  C.  Breckinridge. 

Escort,  Foule's  Company,  Mississippi  Cavalry, 
Captain  H.  L.  Foule. 

Helm's  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  Benj.  Har- 
din  Helm,  Forty-first  Alabama,  Second  Kentucky, 
Fourth  Kentucky,  Sixth  Kentucky,  Ninth  Ken- 
tucky, Cobb's  Kentucky  Bdttery. 

Adam's  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  Daniel  \V. 
Adams,  Colonel  Eandall  Lee  Gibson — Thirty-sec- 
ond Alabama,  Thirteenth  Louisiana,  Twentieth 
Louisiana,  Sixteenth  Louisiana.  Twenty-fifth 
Louisiana,  Nineteenth  Louisiana,  Fourteenth 
Louisiana  Battalion,  Slocum's  Louisiana  Battery, 
Graves'  Kentucky  Battery. 

Stovall's  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  Marcellus 
A.  Stovall— First  Florida,  Third  Florida,  Fourth 
Florida,  Forty-seventh  Georgia,  Sixtieth  North 
Carolina,  Mebane's  Tennessee  Battery. 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  49 

RESERVE  CORPS. 
Major-General  W.  H.  T.  Walker. 

WALKER'S  DIVISION. 
Brigadier-General  State  Rights  Gist. 

Gist's  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  State  Rights 
Gist,  Colonel  Peyton  H.  Colquitt,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Leroy  Napier — Fourth  Georgia,  Eighth 
Georgia,  Sixteenth  South  Carolina,  Twenty-fourth 
South  Carolina. 

Ector's  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  Matthew 
Duncan — Stone's  Alabama  Battalion,  Pounds' 
Mississippi  Battalion,  Twenty-ninth  North  Caro- 
lina, Ninth  Texas,  Tenth  Texas  Cavalry,  Four- 
teenth Texas  Cavalry,  Thirty-second  Texas  Cav- 
alry. 

Wilson's  Brigade,  Colonel  Claudius  C.  Wilson— 
Twenty-fifth  Georgia,  Twenty-ninth  Georgia, 
Thirtieth  Georgia,  First  Georgia  Battalion  Sharp- 
shooters, Fourth  Louisiana  Battalion. 

Artillery — Ferguson's  South  Carolina  Battery, 
IlowelPs  Georgia  Battery. 

LIDDELL'S    DIVISION. 
Brigadier-General  St.  John  R.  Liddell. 

LiddelPs  Brigade,  Colonel  Daniel  C.  Govan— 
Second  Arkansas,  Fifteenth  Arkansas,  Fifth  Ar- 
kansas, Thirteenth  Arkansas,  Sixth  Arkansas, 
Seventh  Arkansas,  Eighth  Arkansas,  First  Louis- 


50  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

iana  Regulars,  Warren  Light  Artillery,  Mississippi 
Battery. 

Walthall's  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  Edward 
C.  Walthall — Twenty-fourth  Mississippi,  Twenty- 
seventh  Mississippi,  Twenty-ninth  Mississippi, 
Thirtieth  Mississippi,  Thirty-fourth  Mississippi, 
Fowler's  Alabama  Battery. 

Left  Wing,  Lieutenant-General  Jas.  Longstreet. 

BUCKNER'S  CORPS. 
Major-General  Simon  B.  Buckner. 

Escort,  Clark's  Company  Tennessee  Cavalry. 

STEWART'S  DIVISION. 
Major-General  Alexander  P.  Stewart. 

Bates'  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  Wm.  Brimage 
Bates  -  -  Fifty-eighth  Alabama,  Thirty-seventh 
Georgia,  Fourth  Georgia  Battalion  Sharpshooters, 
Fifteenth  Tennessee,  Thirty-seventh  Tennessee, 
Twentieth  Tennessee,  Eufaula  Artillery,  Alabama 
Battery. 

Clayton's  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  ITenry  D. 
Clayton — Eighteenth  Alabama,  Thirty-sixth  Ala- 
bama, Thirty-eighth  Alabama,  First  Arkansas 
Battery. 

Brown's  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  John  C. 
Brown,  Colonel  Edmund  C.  Cook — Eighteenth 


GEN.    SIMON   B.   BUCKNER. 

BORN  in  Kentucky  in  1824.    Was  a  graduate   of  West  Point; 
engaged  in  the  Mexican  War,  was  wounded,  was  brevetted 
Captain,  commanded  the  State  Guards,  was  Adjutant-Gen, 
of  the  state,  joined  the  Confederate  Army,  and  surrendered  the 
Fort  and  Garrison  of  Fort  Donaldson,  in  February,  1862,  when 
he  was  sent  a  prisoner  to  Fort  Warren.      After  his  release  he 
continued  in  the  Confederate  service  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
participating  in  the  battles  of  Stone  River  and  Chickamauga, 
rendering  efficient  service  to  the  Confederacy.     He  nov.r  resides 
in  Kentucky. 


GEN.   WILLIAM    T.   WALKER. 

BORN  in  Georgia  in  181G.  Was  a  graduate  of  West  Point, 
served  in  the  Florida  and  Mexican  Wars,  was  severely 
wounded  three  times,  was  several  times  promoted  for  gallant 
conduct.  Resigned  his  commission  in  U.  S.  Army  to  join  the 
Confederacy  in  18G1.  Became  a  major-general,  participated  in 
the  battle  of  Chickamauga;  was  killed  in  the  battle  of  Decatur, 
Georgia,  July  5th,  1864. 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  51 

Tennessee,  Twenty-sixth  Tennessee,  Thirty-second 
Tennessee,  Forty-fifth  Tennessee,  Twenty-third 
Tennessee,  T.  H.  Dawson's  Georgia  Battery. 


PRESTON'S  DIVISION. 
Brigadier-General  William  Preston. 

Grade's  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  Archibald 
Gracie,  Jr. — Forty-third  Alabama,  First  Alabama, 
Second  Alabama,  Third  Alabama,  Fourth  Ala- 
bama, Sixty-third  Tennessee. 

Trigg's  Brigade,  Colonel  Kobert  O.  Trigg — First 
Florida  Cavalry  (dismounted),  Sixth  Florida,  Sev- 
enth Florida,  Fifty -fourth  Virginia. 

Third  Brigade,  Colonel  John  H.  Kelly — Sixty- 
fifth  Georgia,  Fifth  Kentucky,  Fifty-eighth  North 
Carolina,  Sixty-third  Virginia. 

Artillery  Battalion,  Major  A.  Ley  den — Jeffress' 
Virginia  Battery,  Peeples'  Georgia  Battery,  Woli- 
han's  Georgia  Battery. 

Reserve  Corps  Artillery,  Major  Samuel  C.  Will- 
iams— Baxter's  Tennessee  Battery,  Darden's  Mis- 
sissippi Battery,  Kolb's  Alabama  Battery,  Mc- 
Cant's  Florida  Battery. 


52  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

DETACHMENT  FROM  THE  ARMY  OF  NORTHERN 
VIRGINIA. 

LONGSTREET'S  CORPS  (HOOD'S). 

Major-General  John  B.  Hood. 

McLAW'S  DIVISION  (HOOD'S  CORPS.) 

Brigadier-General  Joseph  B.  Kershaw,  Major-General 

La  Fayette  McLaws. 

Kershaw's  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  Jos.  B. 
Kershaw — Second  South  Carolina,  Third  South 
Carolina,  Seventh  South  Carolina,  Eighth  South 
Carolina,  Fifteenth  South  Carolina,  Third  South 
Carolina  Battalion. 

Wofford's  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  Wm.  T. 
Wofford — Sixteenth  Georgia,  Eighteenth  Georgia, 
Twenty-fourth  Georgia,  Third  Georgia  Battalion 
Sharpshooters,  Cobb's  Georgia  Legion,  Phillip's 
Georgia  Legion. 

Bryan's  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  Goode 
Bryan — Tenth  Georgia,  Fiftieth  Georgia,  Fifty- 
first  Georgia,  Fifty-third  Georgia. 

Humphrey's  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  Benj. 
E.  Humphrey — Thirteenth  Mississippi,  Seven- 
teenth Mississippi,  Eighteenth  Mississippi,  Twen- 
ty-first Mississippi. 


GEN.   NATHAN    B.    FOREST, 


THE  cavalryman  of  the  Confederacy,  was  born  at  Memphis, 
Tennessee,  in  1821.  Had  been  a  successful  slave  trader, 
and  when  the  war  broke  out  was  very  rich.  He  joined  the 
Tennessee  Mounted  Riflemen  early  in  1861,  and  in  July  of  that 
year  raised  and  equipped  a  regiment  of  cavalry.  He  was  in  the 
battles  of  Donaldson,  luka  and  Shiloh,  and  opened  the  Battle 
of  Chickamauga  at  sunrise  of  September  19th  on  the  Union  left. 
The  dark  page  of  his  life's  history  was  his  slaughter  of  colored 
prisoners  at  Fort  Pillow,  in  April,  18G4,  where  he  commanded 
the  Confederate  forces.  Died  at  Memphis  in  1877. 


GEN.   JAMES    LONGSTREET. 

BORN  in  Alabama  in  1820,  graduated  at  West  Point  in  1842. 
Was  severely  wounded  in  the  war  against  Mexico,  held 
the  rank  of  Major  when  the  Civil  War  broke  out,  resigned 
his  commission  to  join  the  Confederacy,  was  regarded  as  one  of 
the  ablest  of  the  Confederate  leaders:  his  dash  and  skillful 
leadership  proved  disastrous  to  the  Union  right  at  Chicka- 
mauga.  When  the  war  closed  he  became  loyal  to  the  Govern- 
ment, and  was  appointed  Internal  Revenue  Collector  for  the 
port  of  New  Orleans  by  President  Grant,  made  U.  S.  Marshal 
by  President  Garfield,  and  in  1880  was  appointed  Minister  to 
Turkey  by  President  Hayes.  He  is  universally  admired  for  the 
patriotic  stand  he  took  at  the  close  of  the  war,  and  is  a  most 
welcome  guest  in  every  Northern  home.  He  now  resides  in 
Gainsville,  Georgia. 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  53 

HOOD'S  DIVISION. 

Major-General  John  B.  Hood,  Brigadier-General 
Evander  Mclver  Law. 

Jenkins'  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  Micah  Jen- 
kins— Second  South  Carolina,  First  South  Caro- 
lina, Fifth  South  Carolina,  Sixth  South  Carolina, 
Hampton  Legion,  Palmetto  Sharpshooters. 

Law's  Brigade,  Colonel  Jas.  L.  Sheffield,  Briga- 
dier-General E.  Mel.  Law,  Colonel  W.  C.  Gates — 
Fourth  Alabama,  Fifteenth  Alabama,  Forty- 
fourth  Alabama,  Forty-seventh  Alabama,  Forty- 
eighth  Alabama. 

Anderson's  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  Geo.  T. 
Anderson — Seventh  Georgia,  Eighth  Georgia, 
Ninth  Georgia,  Eleventh  Georgia,  Fifty-ninth 
Georgia. 

Benning's  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  Henry  L. 
Benning — Second  Georgia,  Fifteenth  Georgia, 
Seventeenth  Georgia,  Twentieth  Georgia. 

JOHNSON'S  DIVISION  (HOOD'S  CORPS). 
Brigadier-General  Bushrod  R.  Johnson. 

Gregg's  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  John 
Gregg,  Colonel  Cyrus  A.  Sugg — Third  Tennessee, 
Tenth  Tennessee,  Thirtieth  Tennessee,  Forty-first 
Tennessee,  Fiftieth  Tennessee,  First  Tennessee 


64  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

Battalion,  Seventh  Texas,  Bledsoe's  Missouri  Bat- 
tery. 

McNair's  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  Evander 
McNair,  Colonel  David  Coleman — First  Arkansas 
Mounted  Rifle,  Second  Arkansas  Mounted  Rifle, 
Twenty-fifth  Arkansas,  Fourth  and  Thirty-first 
Arkansas,  Thirty-ninth  North  Carolina,  Culpep- 
per's  South  Carolina  Battery. 

Johnson's  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  Bushrod 
R.  Johnson,  Colonel  John  S.  Fulton — Seventeenth 
Tennessee,  Twenty-third  Tennessee,  Twenty-fifth 
Tennessee,  Forty-fourth  Tennessee,  Company  E, 
Georgia  Artillery,  Battalion  Ninth. 

Corps  Artillery  (Longstreet's),  Flickling's  South 
Carolina  Battery,  Jordan's  Virginia  Battery, 
Moody's  Louisiana  Battery,  Parker's  Virginia  Bat- 
tery, Taylor's  Virginia  Battery,  Woolfolk's  Vir- 
ginia Battery. 

Reserve  Artillery,  Major  Felix  II.  Robertson- 
Barret's  Missouri  Battery,  Havis'  Georgia  Battery, 
Lumsden's  Alabama  Battery,  Massenburg's  Geor- 
gia Battery. 

Forrest's  Corps  Cavalry,  Brigadier-General  Na- 
than Bedford  Forrest. 

Escort,  Jackson's  Company,  Tennessee  Cavalry, 
Captain  J.  C.  Jackson. 


SNODGRASS    HOUSE. 


GENERAL  Thomas'  headquarters  September  19th  and  20th, 
1863,  to  G  P.  jr.       This  old  log-house,  situated  near  the 
center  of  Horse-shoe  Ridge,   was   in   the   midst  of  the 
heaviest  storm   of  battle   that   Sunday  afternoon,  when  every 
deadly  missile  that  the  enemy  could  hurl  against  the  Ridge  failed 
to  move  the  solid  "Rock   of   Chickamauga."      The   large   trees 
which  stood  near  the  house  were  shorn  of  their  limbs  and  were 
left  mere  stumps;  new  growths  have  since  come  oat,  giving  them 
a  dwarfed  appearance,  which  will  be  noticed  by  the  visitor. 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  55 

ARMSTRONG'S  DIVISION. 
Brigadier-General  Frank  C.  Armstrong. 

Armstrong's  Brigade,  Colonel  Jas.  T.  Wheeler- 
Third  Arkansas,  Second  Kentucky,  Sixth  Tennes- 
see, Eighteenth  Tennessee  Battalion. 

Forrest's  Brigade,  Colonel  Geo.  G.  Dibrell— 
Fourth  Tennessee,  Eighth  Tennessee,  Ninth  Ten- 
nessee, Tenth  Tennessee,  Eleventh  Tennessee, 
Shaw's  Battalion,  O.  P.  Hamilton's  Battalion,  R.  D. 
Allison's  Squadron,  Huggin's  Tennessee  Battery, 
Morton's  Tennessee  Battery. 


PEGRAM'S  DIVISION  (FOREST'S  CORPS). 
Brigadier-General  John  Pegram. 

Davidson's  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  H.  B. 
Davidson — First  Georgia,  Sixth  Georgia,  Sixth 
North  Carolina,  Ruckner's  First  Tennessee  Legion, 
Huwald's  Tennessee  Battery. 

Scott's  Brigade,  Colonel  John  S.  Scott— Tenth 
Confederate,  First  Louisiana,  Second  Tennessee, 
Fifth  Tennessee,  N.  T.  Rob'inson's  Louisiana,  Bat- 
tery First  Section. 


56  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

WHEELER'S  CORPS  CAVALRY. 
Major-General   Joseph   Wheeler. 

WHARTON'S  DIVISION. 
Brigadier-General  John  A.  Wharton. 

First  Brigade,  Colonel  C.  C.  Crews — Malone's 
Alabama  Regiment,  Second  Georgia,  Third  Geor- 
gia, Fourth  Georgia. 

Second  Brigade,  Colonel  Thos.  Harrison — Sec- 
ond Confederate,  First  Kentucky,  Fourth  Tennes- 
see, Eighth  Texas,  Eleventh  Texas,  White's  Ten- 
nessee Battery. 

MARTIN'S  DIVISION. 
Brigadier-General  William  T.  Martin. 

First  Brigade,  Colonel  John  T.  Morgan — First 
Alabama,  Third  Alabama,  Fifty-first  Alabama, 
Eighth  Confederate. 

Second  Brigade,  Colonel  A.  A.  Russell — Fourth 
Alabama,  First  Confederate,  J.  H.  Wiggin's  Ar- 
kansas Battery. 


GEN.   WILLIAM    S.    ROSECRANS 

WAS  born  at  Kingston,  Ohio,  December  6th,  1819.  Graduated 
at  West  Point  in  1842,  was  made  Brigadier-general  of 
the  U.  S.  Army,  and  commanded  a  division  at  the  siege  of 
Corinth,  in  May,  1862.  In  October  of  that  year  he  was  made 
commander  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  and  in  De'cember 
won  the  battle  at  Stone  River.  In  June,  1863,  he  drove  Bragg 
into  Georgia,  and  in  September  fought  and  lost  the  battle  of 
Chickamauga.  In  1864  he  commanded  the  Department  of  Mis- 
souri. In  March,  1865  was  brevetted  Major-general  of  the  U.  6. 
Army.  He  now  (1895)  resides  in  Los  Angeles,  California. 


GEN.  BRAXTON    BRAGG. 

BORN  in  North  Carolina  in  1815.     Died  at  Galveston,  Texas, 
in  1876.     Was  a  graduate  at  West  Point,  served  in  the 
Mexican  War,  was  promoted  to.  Major-general  in  1857, 
was  an  extensive  planter  in  Louisiana  until  the  breaking 
out  of  the  Civil  War.  Entered  the  Confederate  service  in  1861  as 
Brigadier-general.  Was  made  Major-general  in  1862,  participated 
in  the  battles  of  Shiloh  and  Stone  River,  was  made  General   in 
place  of  A.  S.  Johnston  (killed),  succeeded  Beaiiregard  in  com- 
mand, was  driven  into  Georgia  in  1863.    Defeated  Rosecrans  at 
Cliickamauga,  and  was  defeated  by  Grant  at  Missionary  Ridge, 
September  25,  1863. 


GLIMPSES  OP  CHICKAMAUGA.  57 


CHAPTER  VI. 

ROSECRANS'  MOVEMENT  ON  CHATTANOOGA  AND 
CHICKAMAUGA. 

The  withdrawal  of  Bragg's  army  from  Tula- 
homa,  in  Western  Tennessee,  to  Chattanooga,  of 
course  made  that  point  the  objective  of  a  cam- 
paign. Bragg's  army  reached  this  point  the  1st 
of  July.  Here  he  established  his  headquarters 
with  Folk's  Corps  retained  in  and  around  town  for 
the  purpose  of  scouting  and  guard  duty.  Bragg 
commenced  at  once  fortifying  his  position,  which 
work  lie  steadily  prosecuted  for  some  weeks, 
awaiting  the  development  of  Rosecrans'  plans, 
whose  army  was  lying  along  the  base  of  the  Cum- 
berland Mountains,  and  was  composed  of  three 
corps — the  Fourteenth,  under  Thomas,  at  Der- 
cherd;  the  Twentieth,  under  McCook,  at  Winches- 
ter, and  the  Twenty-first,  under  Crittenden,  at  Mc- 
Minnville,  where  General  Kosecrans'  headquarters 
were  established.  This  was  115  miles  from  Nash- 
ville, the  secondary  base  of  supplies.  On  July  4th, 
General  Eosecrans  was  ordered  to  prepare  for  a 
forward  campaign  at  the  earliest  possible  moment. 


58  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

With  his  usual  promptness,  the  old  warrior  was 
ready  to  break  camp  August  16th,  and  the  com-, 
mand,  "Forward,  march,"  rang  out  along  the  lines. 
In  making  his  final  preparations  for  the  operations 
against  Chattanooga,  General  Rosecrans  consid- 
ered two  plans,  one  was  to  appear  on  the  front 
of  Chattanooga  and  attempt  a  direct  attack.  This 
plan  Bragg  was  prepared  for,  as  he  was  at  his  base 
with  but  short  lines  to  all  important  points  under 
the  control  of  the  Confederate  Government,  and  at 
a  place  where  in  a  very  short  time  heavy  reinforce- 
ments could  be  sent  him,  while  Rosecrans  in  front 
of  Chattanooga  would  be  in  a  rough  hill  country 
many  miles  from  his  base  of  supplies.  But  old 
"Rosy"  did  not  propose  to  meet  the  expectations 
of  his  opponent  in  that  way.  At  the  expiration  of 
three  weeks  he  had  executed  one  of  the  most  bril- 
liant military  movements  of  the  war  to  obtain  pos- 
session of  this  great  stronghold  of  nature,  the  gate- 
way of  Eastern  Tennessee  and  Northern  Georgia, 
Chattanooga.  At  that  time  this  place  was  of  the 
utmost  importance  to  each  of  the  contending 
forces,  and  the  highest  prize,  in  a  military  sense, 
the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  ever  contended  for. 
The  troops  were  ordered  to  move  as  follows :  Crit- 
tenden's  Corps  in  three  columns  to  move  through 
the  Sequatchie  Valley;  Minty's  Cavalry  to  move  on 
the  left  by  Sparta  and,  after  covering  the  left  flank 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  59 

of  Van  Cleve,  to  proceed  to  Pikeville.  Thomas  was 
to  move  Reynolds  and  Brannan  from  University 
by  way  of  Battle  Creek,  where  they  were  to  be 
posted,  concealed  near  its  mouth.  Negley  and 
Baird  to  go  by  way  of  Tantallon  and  halt  on  Crow 
Creek  between  Anderson  and  Stevenson.  McCook 
to  move  Johnson  by  Salem  and  Lar kin's  Ford  to 
Bellefont.  Davis  by  Mount  Top  and  Crow  Creek 
to  near  Stevenson.  The  three  brigades  of  cavalry 
by  Fayetteville  and  Athens  to  cover  the  line  of  the 
Tennessee  from  Whitesburg  up.  These  orders 
were  all  complied  with  and  the  movements  com- 
pleted by  the  evening  of  the  20th. 

The  Confederate  Army  consisted  of  three  corps 
of  infantry,  Folk's,  Hill's  and  Buckner's,  and  two 
corps  of  cavalry,  Forrest's  and  Wheeler's,  and  be- 
fore Bragg's  withdrawal  from  Chattanooga  Walk- 
er's Corps  had  been  added. 

As  soon  as  the  Union  army  commenced  to  move 
the  matter  was  reported  to  Bragg  at  Chattanooga 
and  he  then  knew  that  he  might  look  for  an  im- 
mediate  advance.  His  army  was  guarding  the 
mountain  passes  above  and  below  the  city,  and  the 
south  banks  of  the  Tennessee  River. 

An  imposing  feint  had  been  determined  upon  by 
General  Rosecrans  to  attract  the  attention  of 
Bragg,  by  throwing  Crittenden's  Corps  over  Wai- 
den's  Ridge  into  the  Tennessee  Valley  in  front  of 


60  GLIMPSES  OP  CHICKAMAUGA. 

Chattanooga,  to  create  the  impression  that  he  in- 
tended to  attack  the  city  from  that  direction, 
while  Thomas  and  McCook  were  to  cross  the  river 
forty  miles  below  near  Bridgeport,  cross  the  Ilac- 
coon  Mountains  and  the  Lookout  Range  and  ad- 
vance upon  the  city  from  the  rear,  which  would 
also  cut  off  Bragg's  line  of  communication.  Crit- 
tenden  sent  Hazen's  Brigade  to  reconnoitre  Harri- 
son's Landing.  They  found  the  enemy  busy  throw- 
ing up  earthworks.  On  the  next  day  Hazen  was 
posted  at  Poe's  crossroads.  Wilder  was  sent  to 
reconnoitre  from  Harrison's  Landing  down  to 
Chattanooga,  where  he  was  supported  by  Wag- 
ner's Brigade,  and  both  commands  opened  fire  on 
the  town  by  shelling  it  from  across  the  river.  This 
caused  the  Confederate  troops  to  move  beyond 
range,  and  the  withdrawal  by  Bragg  of  his  stores 
to  points  of  convenience  on  the  railroad  to  the 
rear.  The  demonstration  under  Crittenden  was  so 
well  timed  that  Bragg  concentrated  his  immediate 
command  at  and  above  Chattanooga  and  with- 
drew Anderson's  Brigade  from  Bridgeport,  leav- 
ing the  crossing  of  the  river  by  Thomas  and 
McCook  without  obstructions.  The  demonstra- 
tions had  been  carried  out  so  nicely  from 
Whitesburg  to  Blithes'  Ferry,  a  distance  of  150 
miles,  that  Bragg  was  at  a  loss  to  determine 
just  where  to  look  for  the  real  advance  of  the 


THE  BROTHERTON  HOUSE. 


HPHIS  farm-house,  facing  the  Lafayette  road,  was  the  Union 
center  and  was  the  scene  of  the  break  September  20th, 
11  A.  M.,  of  the  Union  line,  but  it  developed  the  fighting1  quali- 
ties of  both  Union  and  Confederate  soldiers,  perhaps,  as  no 
other  conflict  of  the  war  had  ever  done. 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUG^  61 

"Yankee  horde,"  but  was  very  positive  that  it 
would  not  be  anywhere  near  Bridgeport.  In  a  few 
days  after  the  surprise  at  Chattanooga,  Burnside's 
Cavalry  appeared  in  the  vicinity  of  Knoxville,  and 
Bragg  ordered  Buckner  to  evacuate  that  place  and 
move  down  the  river  toward  Charleston,  suppos- 
ing Burnside  had  been  ordered  to  form  a  junction 
with  Rosecrans.  A  demonstration  at  Blythe's  by 
Minty's  Cavalry  caused  Bragg  to  order  him  to  re- 
tire to  Chattanooga.  On  August  30th,  Thomas 
was  informed  that  B.  R.  Johnson  with  15,000  men 
from  Mississippi  had  reinforced  Bragg,  whose  po- 
sition was  also  made  stronger  by  the  natural  ob- 
stacles that  lay  in  the  path  of  General  Rosecrans' 
military  movements.  The  Cumberland  Mountains, 
2,000  feet  high,  wrere  to  be  crossed  over  roads 
which  were  steep  and  rugged,  and  were  mere 
trails.  The  Tennessee  River  was  400  feet  wide  at 
Caperton's  and  1,000  feet  at  Bridgeport,  where 
the  pontoons  were  to  be  thrown  for  the 
crossing  of  the  main  portion,  of  the  army. 
The  Raccoon  Mountains  and  the  formidable  Look- 
out Range  rose  before  the  main  body  of  the  army 
south  of  the  Tennessee,  the  altitude  of  these  moun- 
tains being  about  the  same  as  that  of  the  Cum- 
berland. These  ridges  average  about  twenty  miles 
in  width.  The  campaign  involved  carrying  twen- 
ty^five  days'  rations,  cutting  loose  from  the  base 


62  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

of  supplies  at  Stevenson,  crossing  a  wide  river  into 
the  enemy's  country,  loaded  with  ammunition  suf- 
ficient for  two  battles,  and  throwing  an  army  over 
two  precipitous  mountain  ranges  into  the  rear  of 
Chattanooga.  Under  cover  of  the  apparent  activ- 
ity of  the  left  of  our  army,  in  front  of  and  above 
Chattanooga,  the  main  body  of  Rosecrans'  army 
had  reached  the  banks  of  the  Tennessee  opposite 
the  enemy,  concealing  as  far  as  he  could  the  move- 
ments of  his  troops  and  the  positions  of  his  pon- 
toons and  trains.  He  then  selected  the  best  points 
for  the  crossing  and  at  once  ordered  the  move- 
ments to  begin.  The  troops  crossed  the  river  at 
four  points.  Owing  to  recent  rains  the  crossing 
was  very  difficult.  McCook  crossed  at  Caperton's 
Ferry,  forty  miles  below  Chattanooga,  where  the 
pontoon  bridge  was  laid  by  Davis'  Division  after 
driving  a  detachment  of  Confederate  cavalry  from 
the  opposite  side.  Reynolds  advanced  to  Shell- 
mound,  seized  the  place,  captured  a  number  of 
boats  and  crossed  at  that  point.  Sheridan  crossed 
at  Bridgeport.  Brannan  crossed  his  division  from 
the  mouth  of  Battle  Creek  on  rafts.  The  crossing 
was  commenced  on  August  29th,  and  completed 
September  4th.  Baird  in  command  of  a  division 
of  Thomas'  Corps  crossed  at  Bridgeport  after  the 
bridge  was  repaired.  Negley  crossed  at  Caper- 
ton's  Ferry.  Thomas'  Corps  crossed  Sand  Moun- 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  .  63 

tain  aud  concentrated  near  Trenton  in  Wills  Val- 
ley east  of  it.  On  September  6th,  Negley's  Divi- 
sion being  in  advance  reached  Johnson's  Crook 
when  Beatty's  Brigade  was  sent  at  once  to  seize 
Steven's  Gap.  Before  proceeding  far  he  met  the 
enemy's  pickets,  and  night  coming  on  he  went  into 
camp  just  west  of  the  gap.  The  Eighteenth  Ohio* 
went  a  short  distance  on  the  road  to  the  top  of 
Lookout  Mountain,  met  the  enemy's  pickets  and 
withdrew.  The  next  day  Negley,  with  two  bri- 
gades, supported  by  Baird's  Division  moved  for- 
ward, gained  possession  of  the  top  of  the  moun- 
tain and  secured  the  forks  of  the  road.  The  whole 
of  Negley's  Division  reached  this  point  on  the  9th 
at  the  head  of  Johnson's  Crook  and  with  one  bri- 
gade held  the  pass,  while  another  was  sent  a  short 
distance  north  on  the  mountain  to  seize  Cooper's 
Gap.  With  a  regiment  in  advance  to  occupy  and 
hold  the  entrance  on  the  east,  another  regiment 
was  sent  forward  to  hold  Steven's  Gap,  which  was 
found  to  be  heavily  obstructed  with  fallen  tim- 
ber. Negley  still  being  in  the  advance,  moved  the 
day  following  across  Missionary  Bidge  and  took 
up  a  position  in  McLemore's  Cove  on  the  road 
through  Dug  Gap.  Here  he  found  the  enemy's  cav- 
alry drawn  up  in  line,  and  learned  from  citizens 
that  the  Confederates  were  in  strong  force  con- 
centrated in  his  front  in  l)ug  Gap  with  infantry. 


64  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

artillery  and  cavalry.  Baird's  Division  was  within 
supporting  distance  of  Negley.  Early  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  9th  Reynolds  sent  the  Ninety-second 
Illinois  (mounted)  to  make  a  reconnoissance  along 
the  top  of  Lookout  Mountain,  to  discover  the  en- 
emy's movements  and  to  ascertain  the  truth  of  the 
rumors  in  regard  to  the  evacuation  of  Chatta- 
nooga. At  11  a.  m.,  the  regiment  entered  the  town 
as  the  rear  of  the  enemy's  column  was  leaving  the 
place.  On  the  10th,  the  four  divisions  of  the  Foul*- 
teenth  Corps  were  in  supporting  distance  of  each 
other,  with  Negley  still  in  front  of  Dug  Gap,  the 
enemy  still  holding  the  east  entrance  with  a  heavy 
force,  and  the  gap  full  of  obstructions.  Negley  dis- 
covered early  the  following  day  that  the  Confed- 
erates were  advancing  on  him  in  such  superior 
force  that  his  situation  was  critical  and  that  he 
was  in  danger  of  losing  his  train.  He  determined 
to  fall  back  to  a  strong  position  in  front  of  Stev- 
en's Gap,  which  movement  he  proceeded  to  exe- 
cute, and  succeeded  in  the  face  of  the  enemy,  with 
the  prompt  co-operation  of  Baird,  in  securing  his 
position  in  front  of  the  gap  without  the  loss  of  a 
wagon.  The  next  day  the  location  of  Bragg's 
army  at  Lafayette  with  Johnson's  reinforcements 
was  fully  determined,  and  Thomas'  Corps  now 
nwnilocl  the  movements  of  the  other  troops  with 
to  the  concentration  of  the  army.  In  the 


GLIMPSES  OP  CHICKAMAUGA.  65 

meantime  Johnson's  and  Davis'  Divisions  of  Me- 
Cook's  Corps,  crossing  the  river  at  Caperton's 
Ferry,  moved  over  Sand  Mountain  into  Will's 
Valley,  and  thence  on  September  4th,  Davis  being 
in  advance,  moved  into  and  seized  Winston's  Gap, 
some  twenty-five  miles  from  Caperton's  Ferry  and 
about  forty-two  miles  from  Chattanooga.  Sheri- 
dan's Division  crossed  the  river  at  the  railroad 
bridge,  moved  through  Trenton,  and  on  the  Gth 
encamped  twelve  miles  from  Winston's  Gap.  Me- 
Cook  sent  several  detachments  on  the  8th  and  9th 
to  different  points,  reconnoitering  the  enemy — one 
went  to  Alpine  and  two  into  Broomtowu  Valley, 
but  nothing  was  discovered  by-  him  of  Bragg's 
whereabouts.  On  the  evening  of  the  9th  Itose- 

C3  v 

crans,  who  was  at  Trenton,  sent  orders  to  MeCook 
stating  that  the  enemy  had  evacuated  Chatta- 
nooga and  were  retreating  southward,  and  direct- 
ing him  to  move  rapidly  upon  Alpine  and  Sum- 
merville  in  pursuit,  to  intercept  his  line  of  retreat, 
and  to  attack  on  his  flank.  On  the  10th,  MeCook 
reached  Alpine,  where  he  discovered  the  situation 
to  be  a  bad  one.  The  enemy  had  not  retreated  far 
from  Chattanooga,  the  exact  location  was  as  yet 
unknown  to  him.  He  soon  learned  that  he  could 
not  communicate  with  Thomas,  as  his  couriers 
could  not  pass  through  the  valley,  occupied  as  it 
was  by  the  enemy  in  force,  and  that  his  corps  was 


66  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

entirely  isolated  at  Alpine,  and  that  had  he  gone  to 
Summerville  he  would  have  been  exposed  to  an 
attack  from  the  entire  Confederate  army,  which 
his  reconnoissance  later  determined  was  concen- 
trated in  force  near  Lafayette.  On  the  following 
day  McCook  remained  in  camp  waiting  for  Thomas 
to  move  up  on  him.  He,  however,  sent  his  wagon 
train  back  to  the  summit  of  Lookout  Mountain. 
On  the  12th,  McCook  waited  in  camp  for  reports 
from  the  cavalry  as  to  the  position  and  movements 
of  the  enemy. 

Crittenden's  Corps  had  moved  down  the  Se- 
quatchie  Valley  in  readiness  for  an  active  cam- 
paign. He  crossed  the  river  at  Bridgeport,  Shell 
Mound  and  Battle  Creek,  and  on  September  4th 
his  entire  corps  was  across  the  river.  He  was  or- 
dered to  move  up  the  valley  of  Running  Water 
Creek  and  Whiteside,  leaving  one  division  on  the 
line  of  the  Nashville  &  Chattanooga  Railroad  and 
to  push  forward  as  near  as  possible  to  Chatta- 
nooga, threatening  the  enemy  in  that  direction. 
At  6  a.  m.,  on  the  9th,  Crittenden  was  informed  by 
dispatch  from  Rosecrans  that  Chattanooga  had 
been  abandoned  by  the  enemy  and  that  he  was 
to  push  forward  at  once  with  five  days'  rations 
and  make  a  vigorous  pursuit.  During  the  morn- 
ing Crittenden,  with  Wood's  Division,  occupied 
the  town  and  Wood  was  placed  in  command.  Pal- 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  67 

mer's  and  Van  Cleve's  Divisions  were  moved  on  to 
Kossville,  four  miles  south  of  Chattanooga  and 
camped  there.  In  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day 
Crittenden  was  ordered  to  leave  a  brigade  at  Chat- 
tanooga and  with  the  balance  of  his  command  to 
pursue  the  enemy  with  the  utmost  vigor,  the  line 
of  inarch  to  be  through  Kinggold  and  on  to  Dalton. 
The  next  day  Crittenden  left  Wagner,  who  had 
crossed  the  river  from  the  front  of  the  town  dur- 
ing the  night,  in  command,  and  ordered  forward 
Palmer's,  Van  Cleve's  and  the  two  brigades  of 
Wood's  Division  in  pursuit,  marching  on  the  Ross- 
ville  and  Einggold  Road.  During  the  afternoon 
Palmer  reported  the  enemy's  cavalry  strong  on  his 
front,  that  he  had  only  been  able  to  march  six 
miles,  and  that  his  advance  had  been  checked  by 
a  charge  of  the  Confederate  Cavalry.  That  night 
Crittenden  received  several  reports  from  his  front 
that  the  enemy  was  in  force  near  Lafayette,  and 
threatening  to  retake  Chattanooga.  During  the 
llth,  Wood,  with  his  two  brigades,  was  on  a  re- 
connoissance  at  Gordon's  Mill  and  Crittenden  was 
ordered  to  occupy  Ringgold  and  report.  These 
movements  determined  to  Rosecrans'  satisfaction 
the  position  of  the  enemy  in  force  in  the  vicinity  of 
Lafayette.  He  immediately  ordered  Crittenden  to 
close  his  entire  command  upon  Wood,  crossing  as 
quickly  as  possible  to  the  Rossville  and  Lafayette 


68  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

Koad  to  some  point  near  Lee  &  Gordon's  Mill. 
Early  on  the  morning  of  the  12th,  Wilder  was  or- 
dered back  to  Kinggold  and  directed  to  follow  on 
the  line  of  march  of  the  infantry  covering  the  left 
Hank.  Crittenden  succeeded  during  the  day  in  ef- 
fecting a  concentration  of  his  command  at  Lee  & 
Gordon's  Mill,  which  point  Wilder's  Brigade 
reached  after  a  severe  skirmish  during  the  day 
near  Leet's  tanyard,  where  he  lost  thirty  men 
killed  and  wounded.  With  the  knowledge  that 
Bragg  had  concentrated  his  forces  awaiting  rein- 
forcements behind  Pigeon  Mountain,  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  Lafayette,  and  that  his  own  army  was  scat- 
tered a  distance  of  thirty  miles  from  flank  to  flank 
—from  Lee  &  Gordon's  Mill  to  Alpine — Rosecrans 
said  in  his  official  report  that  he  felt  it  to  be  a  mat- 
ter of  life  and  death  to  effect  the  concentration  of 
his  army  in  the  shortest  possible  time. 

Bragg  had  been  kept  fully  posted  regarding  the 
movements  of  the  Union  army  under  Crittenden, 
but  the  report  that  the  army  was  crossing  the  Ten- 
nessee below  was  regarded  by  him  as  incredible. 
These  reports  were  soon  confirmed,  however,  by 
the  news  that  the  Union  Cavalry  had  occupied 
Trenton  and  had  advanced  up  the  Wills  Valley 
Railroad  as  far  as  Wauhatchie  within  seven  miles 
of  Chattanooga  as  a  covering  force  under  which 
Rosecrans'  columns  of  infantry  were  advancing. 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  69 

The  Union  army  was  now  as  near  the  line  of  com- 
munication of  the  Confederate  army  as  the  latter 
was  to  the  Union  line  at  Nashville,  and  with  less 
risk  in  its  advance  movements  should  Bragg  com- 
mence-operations  in  the  north.  Bringing  his  cav- 
alry forward  at  once,  Bragg  soon  ascertained  that 
the  general  movement  of  the  Union  army  was  to- 
ward his  left  and  rear,  in  the  direction  of  Dalton 
and  Borne,  keeping  Lookout  Mountain  between 
the  armies.  He  then  determined  to  meet  them  as 
their  columns  came  from  the  defiles  of  the  moun- 
tains. To  hold  Chattanooga  would  require  at  least 
two  strong  divisions  and  he  felt  that  his  force 
would  not  permit  this  and  make  a  successful  at- 
tack also.  Bragg  put  his  army  in  motion  on  Sep- 
tember Tth  and  8th,  and  took  up  position  from 
Lee  £  Gordon's  Mill  to  Lafayette  on  the  road  run- 
ning south  from  Chattanooga  on  the  east  bank  of 
Chickamauga  Creek,  establishing  his  headquar- 
ters at  Snow  Hill,  near  Lee  &  Gordon's  Mill. 

The  position  of  our  detached  corps  was  fully 
known  to  Bragg  on  the  8th.  Learning  of  Negley's 
movement  of  the  9th  into  McLemore's  Cove, 
Bragg  rightly  supposed  that  a  hurried  pursuit  was 
being  made  after  his  force  with  the  idea  that  he 
was  in  full  retreat.  With  his  own  forces  concen- 
trated in  front  of  the  Union  center  he  at  once  saw 
how  the  corps  of  Kosecrans'  army  was  exposed  to 


70  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

attack  and  defeat  in  detail  and  that  evening  he 
gave  orders  to  Hindman  to  prepare  his  division  to 
move  against  Negley  and  ordered  Hill  to  send  or 
take  Cleburne's  Division,  join  Hindman,  and  im- 
mediately move  upon  Negley.  On  receipt  of  these 
orders  Hill  replied  that  his  part  of  the  movement 
was  impracticable  as  Cleburne  was  sick,  and  that 
both  Dug  and  Catlett's  Gaps  had  been  closed  by 
falling  timber,  which  would  require  twenty-four 
hours  to  remove.  Ilindman  having  marched  dur- 
ing the  night  of  the  9th  some  ten  miles,  was  now  in 
position  three  miles  from  Negley  in  the  cove. 
Bragg  not  wishing  to  lose  so  favorable  an  oppor- 
tunity of  striking  his  opponent's  forces  ordered 
Buckner  with  his  command  to  move  from  Ander- 
son and  join  Hindman  in  the  cove,  which  he  did 
during  the  afternoon  of  the  10th.  After  these 
commands  had  united  the  commanders  held  a  con- 
sultation and  decided  to  change  the  plan  of  opera- 
tion. 

Bragg  having  removed  his  headquarters  to  La- 
fayette, in  order  to  secure  more  prompt  and  decided 
action  in  the  movements,  ordered  against  the  en- 
emy's center,  now  ordered  Polk  to  send  his  remain- 
ing division  to  support  Hindman  during  the  opera- 
tion in  the  cove.  Dispatching  an  officer  to  Bragg 
with  a  report  as  to  this  change  of  plans,  Hindman 
and  Cleburne  awaited  his  return.  Bragg  refused 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  71 

to  make  any  change  an£  sent  a  verbal  order  to 
Hiudnian  to  proceed  at  once  to  carry  out  his 
previous  instructions.  Bragg  at  the  same  time 
sent  written  orders  by  courier  to  Hindman  notify- 
ing him  of  the  movements  of  the  Union  forces,  that 
Polk  had  been  directed  to  cover  his  rear,  and  or- 
dered him  to  attack  and  force  his  way  through 
Negley  to  Lafayette,  "At  the  earliest  hour  that  you 
can  see  him  in  the  morning."  Adding :  "Cleburne 
will  attack  in  front  the  moment  your  guns  are 
heard."  Bragg  ordered  Walker's  Corps  to  join 
Cleburne's  Division  at  Dug  Gap  and  unite  in  the 
attack.  At  daylight  on  the  llth,  Bragg  himself 
proceeded  to  Cleburne's  position.  The  day  was 
spent  in  listening  for  Hindnian's  expected  attack, 
but  not  until  the  middle  of  the  afternoon  was  his 
first  gun  heard.  Cleburne  at  once  pressed  for- 
ward, only  to  find  that  Negley  had  fallen  back  to 
Steven's  Gap.  General  Bragg  finding  his  attempt 
against  Thomas  a  failure  turned  promptly  toward 
Crittenden's  Corps,  the  Union  left.  Folk's  and 
Walker's  Corps  were  withdrawn  to  Lafayette,  and 
moved  immediately  toward  Lee  &  Gordon's  Mill. 
At  this  time  Crittenden's  Corps  was  divided,  one 
division  being  sent  to  Ringgold.  On  the  evening 
of  September  12th  Polk  was  directed  to  attack 
Crittenden  at  daylight  on  the  13th.  At  11  o'clock 
that  night  Polk  sent  a  dispatch  that  he  had  taken 


72  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

a  strong  position  for  defense  and  asked  that  he  be 
heavily  reinforced.  He*  was  informed  that  his 
force  exceeded  the  enemy's  and  again  ordered  to 
attack  at  daylight.  Early  on  the  morning  of  the 
13th,  Bragg,  at  the  head  of  Buckner's  command, 
went  to  the  front  and  found  that  no  attack  had 
been  made  on  Crittenden,  and  that  he  had  united 
his  forces,  recrossed  the  Chickamauga  and  taken 
a  strong  position  at  Lee  &  Gordon's  Mill.  Again 
the  attempt  to  strike  the  Union  army  in  detail 
had  failed, and  now  reinforcements  having  arrived 
from  Mississippi  and  Virginia,  Bragg  gave  orders 
to  his  commanders  to  concentrate  along  the  cast 
bank  of  the  Chickamauga  to  points  well  below 
Crittenden's  position,  cross  the  river,  interpose  be- 
tween Rosecrans  and  Chattanooga  and  attack 
Crittenden  at  Lee  &  Gordon's.  The  Confederate 
army  were  in  position  on  the  17th,  and  on  that 
evening  Bragg  issued  the  following  order  for  cross- 
ing his  army  over  the  Chickamauga,  turning  up 
stream  on  the  other  side  and  attacking  at  Lee  & 
Gordon's — the  movement  to  begin  at  sunrise: 

HEADQUARTERS,  ARMY  OF  THE  TEN- 
NESSEE. 

In  the  Field,  Leet's  Tanyard,  September  18,  '63. 

1.  Johnson's  column  (Hood's),  on  crossing  at  or 
near  Reed's  bridge,  will  turn  to  the  left  by  the  most 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  73 

practicable  route,  and  sweep  up  the  Chickamauga 
toward  Lee  &  Gordon's  Mill. 

2.  Walker,  crossing  at  Alexander's  bridge,  will 
unite  in  this  move  and  push  vigorously  on  the  en- 
emy's flank  and  rear  in  the  same  direction. 

3.  Buckner,  crossing  at  Thedford's  Ford,  will  join 
in  the  movement  to  the  left  and  press  the  enemy 
up  the  stream  from  Folk's  front  at  Lee  &  Gor- 
don's Mill. 

4.  Polk  will  press  his  forces  to  the  front  of  Lee  & 
Gordon's  Mill,  and  if  met  by  too  much  resistance  to 
cross,  will  bear  to  the  right  and  cross  at  Dalton's 
Ford  or  at  Thedford's,  as  may  be  necessary  and 
join  in  the  attack  wherever  the  enemy  may  be. 

5.  Hill  will  cover  our  left  flank  from  an  advance 
of  the  enemy  from  the  cove,  and  by  pressing  the 
cavalry  in  his  front,  ascertain  if  the  enemy  is  re- 
inforcing at  Lee  &  Gordon's  Mill,  in  which  event 
he  will  attack  them  in  flank. 

6.  Wheeler's  Cavalry   will   hold   the   Gaps   in 
Pigeon  Mountain  and  cover  our  rear  and  left,  and 
bring  up  stragglers. 

7.  All  teams,  etc.,  not  with  troops  should  go 
toward    Ilinggold    and  Dalton    beyond    Taylor's 
Ridge.    All  cooking  should  be  done  at  the  trains. 
Kations  when  cooked   will    be   forwarded  to  the 
troops. 


74  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

8.  The  above  movement  will  be  executed  with 
the  utmost  promptness,  vigor  and  persistence. 
By  command  of  General  Bragg, 

GEORGE  WM.  BKENT, 
Assistant  Adjutant-General. 

The  stubborn  resistance  of  Minty's  Cavalry, 
from  Peavine  Creek  to  Heed's  bridge,  and  of  Wil- 
der's  Mounted  Infantry  Brigade  at  Alexander's 
bridge,  and  at  Heed's  in  aiding  Minty,  together 
with  the  narrow  roads,  so  delayed  Bragg's  col- 
umns that  no  general  attack  was  made  on  the  18th. 
The  concentration  of  the  Union  forces  continued 
on  the  13th,  Thomas  held  his  position  of  the  12th, 
with  Negley's,  Baird's  and  Brannan's  Divisions  re- 
maining in  camp  awaiting  the  arrival  of  McCook, 
who  had  been  ordered  to  close  up  to  the  left.  Rey- 
nolds' Division  was  concentrated  on  the  road  from 
Cooper's  Gap  to  Catlett's  Gap  and  on  the  13th 
moved  forward,  and  with  his  two  infantry  bri- 
gades, took  a  position  at  Pond  Springs;  he  was 
joined  here  by  Wilder.  On  the  17th,  Thomas 
moved  his  entire  corps  and  closed  up  on  Critten 
den's  right  at  Chickamauga  Creek  and  was  here 
joined  by  McCook  on  his  right.  The  four  divisions 
of  Thomas'  command  on  the  afternoon  of  the  18th 
moved  to  the  left  to  Crawfish  Springs.  Orders 
were  received  by  McCook  at  midnight  on  the  13th 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  75 

directing  him  to  withdraw  to  Lookout  Mountaiji 
and  move  in  haste  along  its  top  to  Steven's  Gap. 
McCook  not  being  sure  of  a  practicable  road  on  top 
of  the  mountain  thought  he  could  effect  a  more  per- 
fect junction  with  Thomas  by  recrossing  Lookout 
to  its  western  base  and  taking  the  road  which  he 
knew,  thence  to  Steven's  Gap.  After  crossing  the 
mountain  he  learned  of  a  good  road  along  the  top 
and  directed  Davis'  and  Johnson's  Divisions  to  re- 
ascend  and  move  in  haste  to  Steven's  Gap.  These 
additional  crossings  delayed  his  junction  with 
Thomas.  McCook's  Corps  was  concentrated  at  Mc- 
Lemore's  Cove  on  the  17th.  Stanley's  Cavalry 
Corps,  now  under  command  of  General  R.  B. 
Mitchell,  Stanley  being  sick,  came  into  Mc- 
Lemore's  Cove  through  Dougherty's  Gap  simulta- 
neously with  McCook's  Corps.  On  the  night  of  the 
18th,  General  Lytle  joining  the  corps  with  two  of 
his  brigades,  McCook's  Corps  joined  the  14th 
(Thomas')  corps,  except  Post's  Brigade  of  Davis' 
Division,  which  was  under  orders  from  General 
Rosecrans  to  hold  Steven's  Gap  at  all  hazards. 
Crdttenden  on  the  13th,  under  orders  from  head- 
quarters, had  posted  Wood's  Division  in  a  strong 
position  at  Lee  &  Gordon's  Mill  with  orders  to  re- 
sist any  advance  of  the  enemy  to  the  last,  and  in 
case  of  extremity,  if  Granger  was  not  in  position 
to  support,  to  fall  back  to  some  point  where  he 


76  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

could  guard  the  road  to  Chattanooga,  and  the  0110 
round  the  point  of  Lookout  Mountain,  and  hold 
both  roads  as  long  as  he  had  a  man  under  him. 
Meantime  Crittenden  moved  the  two  remaining 
divisions  of  his  corps  to  a  position  on  the  southern 
spur  of  Missionary  Ridge,  his  right  communicating 
with  Thomas,  where  he  was  to  remain  covering  the 
road  in  the  Chattanooga  Valley. 

Finding  no  movement  of  the  enemy  on  his  front 
on  the  15th  he  was  ordered  to  return  writh  his  com- 
mand and  take  a  position  near  Crawfish  Springs. 
Thomas  moved  toward  Crittenden  and  on  the  17th 
the  four  corps  of  the  Union  army  were  within  sup- 
porting distance  of  each  other. 


GEN.   JAMES    M.    BOHART 

WAS  born  in  Buchanan  County,  Missouri,  in  November,  1840.  Was  edu- 
cated at  Savannah,  Missouri.  Entered  the  Confederate  service  in  1861 
as  Captain  of  Company  F,  1st  Missouri  Cavalry,  under  General  Price,  and 
later  served  under  Vandorn;  his  service  extended  from  the  Missouri  raids  to 
the  desperate  battles  of  Blue  Mills,  Lexington,  Pea-ridgre,  luka.  Corinth,  Port 
Gibson  and  Champion  Hill.  Was  with  General  Breckinridge  and  Jo  Johnson 
in  their  battles  in  Tennessee  and  Kentucky,  and  was  one  of  those  Confed- 
erates who  said  to  General  Pemberton  at  Vicksburgr,  Mississippi,  "Not 
until  the  last  pound  of  mule  meat  is  eaten  and  our  water  supply  is  cut  off 
will  we  sui-render."  Was  severely  wounded  early  in  the  war.  but  remained 
with  his  command  to  the  close.  RM  a  large  Banking  interest  at  Benton- 
ville,  Arkansas.  Is  commander  of  the  Arkansas  division  of  U.  C.  V.  Is  a 
large-hearted,  fair-minded,  liberal  gentleman. 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  77 


CHAPTER  VII. 

BATTLE  OF  SATURDAY,  SEPTEMBER  19,  1863. 

As  we  listen  to  the  low  rumbling  of  thunder  in 
the  distance,  watch  the  gathering  clouds  along  the 
horizon,  and  hear  the  rustling  of  the  leaves  among 
the  branches  of  the  trees  we  cast  an  anxious  glance 
across  the  sky  and  predict  a  storm.  So  to  the  resi- 
dents of  Chickamauga  Valley  was  heralded  the 
coming  of  the  terrible  cyclone  of  war  about  to 
break  in  their  midst — a  storm  that  was  to  shake 
the  everlasting  hills,  and  send  a  pang  of  sorrow 
to  forty  thousand  homes. 

In  this  beautiful  valley  for  ten  days  twro  mighty 
armies  had  been  concentrating  for  battle.  In  place 
of  the  usual  quiet  and.  the  sweet  song  of  the  birds 
came  the  sharp  blast  of  the  bugle,  or  the  roll  of  the 
drum  and  fife.  General  Rosecrans  being  convinced 
that  General  Bragg  was  concentrating  north  of 
Lafayette  for  battle,  began  the  rapid  concentra- 
tion of  his  army  via  McLemore's  Cove  for  the  pur- 
pose of  interposing  between  Bragg  and  Chatta- 
nooga. Army  headquarters  were  established  -  at 
Crawfish  Springs  on  the  morning  of  the  16th.  The 
concentration  was  completed  on  the  evening  of  the 


78  GLIMPSES  OP  CHICKAMAUGA. 

17th  by  the  arrival  of  McCook's  Corps  on  Thomas' 
right  at  Steven's  Gap.  On  the  morning  of  the  18th 
Hood's  Corps,  under  command  of  General  Bushrod 
II.  Johnson,  consisting  of  Fulton's,  McNair's  and 
Gregg's  brigades  of  his  own  division,  and  Robert- 
son's  Brigade  of  Law's  (Hood)  Division,  preceded 
by  Forrest's  and  R.  M.  Martin's  Cavalry,  being 
under  orders  to  force  a  crossing  of  the  Chicka- 
mauga  at  Reed's  bridge,  encountered  Minty's  Bri- 
gade of  the  Union  cavalry  at  Pea  Vine  Creek  at  11 
a.  m.  and  by  his  resistance  were  compelled  to  make 
a  deployment.  At  3  p.  m.,  the  Confederate  infantry 
forced  a  crossing  at  Reed's  bridge  and  General 
Forrest,  who  had  been  joined  by  Pegram's  Division 
of  cavalry,  crossed  at  Fowler's  Ford,  a  short  dis- 
tance above.  At  4  p.  m.,  General  Johnson  ad- 
vanced to  Jay's  Mill,  where  General  Hood  arrived 
and  took  command.  The  column  then  proceeded 
toward  Lee  &  Gordon's  Mill  via  Alexander  house, 
and  after  some  sharp  skirmishing  with  Minty's 
Cavalry,  Wilder's  Brigade  of  mounted  infantry 
and  part  of  Dick's  Brigade  of  infantry  from  Van 
Cleve's  Division,  Law's  column,  deployed  and 
bivouacked  in  the  woods  about  800  yards  east  of 
the  Viniard  house  in  close  contact  with  the  Union 
forces.  General  Bushrod  R.  Johnson's  Division 
were  the  first  Confederate  troops  to  arrive  on  the 
field. 


CHICKAMAUGA. 


GENERAL  PHILIP  H.  SHERIDAN 


"\17AS  born  in  Ohio  in  1831;  graduated  at  West  Point  in  1853, 
was  made  Captain  in  1861,  Colonel  of  a  Michigan  regi- 
ment of  cavalry  in  J8G2,  commanded  a  division  at  the  battle 
of  Stone  River,  December  31st  of  that  year,  and  for  gallant  ser- 
vice was  made'a  Major-general.  Distinguished  himself  at  the 
battles  of  Chickamauga  and  Missionary  Ridge.  In  April  1804 
was  made  Chief  of  Cavalry.  Was  transferred  to  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac,  made  destructive  raids  on  Lee's  communications; 
was  made  General  of  the  U.  S.  Army  in  1888.  Died  August  5th 
of  the  same  year. 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  79 

In  accordance  with  Bragg's  general  order  of  bat- 
tle, Liddell's  Division  was  ordered  to  cross  with 
Walker's  Corps  to  the  west  side  of  the  Chicka- 
niauga  at  Alexander's  bridge,  on  the  18th.  When 
this  bridge  was  taken  in  a  sharp  affair  of  Walt- 
hall's  with  Wilder's  Brigade  it  was  found  to  be  dis- 
mantled. The  crossing,  therefore,  took  place  a 
mile  and  a  half  down  the  river  at  Bryam's  Ford. 
The  division  bivouacked  near  Alexander's  house. 

Palmer's  Division  of  Crittenden's  Corps  took 
position  on  the  Lafayette  Koad  near  Lee  &  Gor- 
don's Mill  shortly  before  daylight  on  the  morning 
of  the  19th.  Grose's  Brigade  was  sent  on  a  recon- 
noissance  northward;  moving  a  short  distance  on 
the  Lafayette  Road,  they  discovered  the  divisions 
of  Cheathain,  Stewart,  Walker  and  Preston,  and 
the  remainder  of  Law's  (Hood)  Division,  which 
had  crossed  the  river  and  had  formed  for  battle. 
Law's  Division  of  Hood's  Corps  was  on  the  right  of 
Bragg's  line,  in  the  center  Btishrod  Johnson's  Di- 
vision, and  Buckner's  Corps  of  Stewart's  and  Pres- 
ton's Divisions  were  near  Hall's  ford  on  the  left. 
Walker's  Corps  was  coming  up  to  take  position  on 
the  right  of  the  front  line  and  Cheatham  was  in  re- 
serve. These  columns  were  formed  a  short  distance 
east  of  and  facing  the  Lafayette  Road  and  were 
preparing  to  attack  Crittenden's  force. 

Baird's  Division,  following  Negley's    and    fol- 


80  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

lowed  by  Brannan's  and  Reynolds'  Divisions,  left 
the  vicinity  of  Bird's  Mill  in  the  afternoon  of  Sep- 
tember 18,  and  reached  Crawfish  Springs  at  mid- 
night. Here  Negley's  Division  halted  and  turned 
to  the  right  at  that  point  toward  Glass'  Mill.  The 
other  three  divisions  marching  throughout  the 
night  via  Widow  Glenn's,  reached  the  Lafayette 
Road  at  the  south  side  of  the  Kelly  field  at  day- 
light of  September  19.  Baird's  Division  first  went 
into  position,  facing  south;  Starkweather's  Bri- 
gade being  west  of  the  Lafayette  Road,  Scribners 
next  east  of  it,  and  King's  on  the  left  of  Scribner's. 
Soon  after  daylight  Brannan's  Division  arrived  in 
the  vicinity  of  Kelly's  house  and  the  two  brigades 
soon  after  sunrise  advanced  on  the  farm  road  from 
the  McDonald  house  to  Reed's  bridge,  the  remain- 
ing brigade  having  moved  directly  on  to  Jay's  Mill. 
Baird's  line,  east  of  the  Lafayette  Road,  then 
changed  front  and  formed  parallel  to  this  road, 
fronting  eastward.  At  daylight  on  the  19th  For- 
rest started  back  to  reconnoitre  in  the  vicinity  of 
Reed's  bridge,  to  protect  Bragg's  right  flank,  and 
at  7:30  became  heavily  engaged  with  Brannan's 
Division  one  mile  west  of  Jay's  Mill  on  the  road  to 
Reed's  bridge,  with  Forrest's  Cavalry  dismounted. 
Croxton's  Brigade  went  into  action  first,  on  the 
next  road  to  the  right  and  one-fourth  mile  nearer 
to  the  mill.  Van  Derveer's  Brigade  became  hotly 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  81 

engaged  on  this  ground  about  8  o'clock,  advancing 
several  hundred  yards  in  a  southeasterly  direction. 
Council's  Brigade  acted  as  a  support  to  both  Crox- 
ton  and  Van  Derveer.  The  enemy  consisted  of 
Davidson's  Brigade  of  Pegram's  Division  and  Dib- 
rell's  Brigade  of  Armstrong's  Division  of  Forrest's 
Cavalry,  which  was  hastily  brought  from  near 
Folk's  headquarters  at  Dr.  Anderson's  house  be- 
yond Lee  &  Gordon's  Mill,  and  formed  on  the  left 
of  Pegram.  Wilson's  Brigade,  which  was  at  the  in- 
tersection of  the  roads  leading  from  Alexander's 
house  to  Jay's  Mill  and  Lee  &  Gordon's  Mill  was 
also  dispatched  in  haste  to  the  assistance  of  Peg- 
ram's Division.  At  9:30  o'clock,  Ector's  Brigade 
was  hurried  to  the  same  point,  and  both  became 
desperately  engaged.  Croxton  was  at  first  driven 
back,  but  soon  regained  and  held  his  ground.  At 
this  time  Baird's  line  with  Starkweather  follow- 
ing in  column,  moved  rapidly  to  the  support  of 
Brannan,  and  became  engaged  on  his  right,  reliev- 
ing Croxton.  At  11  o'clock,  Liddell's  Division,  con- 
sisting of  Govan's  and  Walthall's  Brigades,  was 
hastened  into  action  and  struck  on  Baird's  flank, 
driving  Baird's  left  brigade  (J.  H.  King)  in  con- 
fusion over  Van  Derveer's  Brigade.  Johnson's  Di- 
vision of  McCook's  Corps  reached  the  Lafayette 
Road  south  of  the  Kelly  house  from  the  vicinity  of 
Catlett's  Gap  about  noon.  It  at  once  moved  east- 


82  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

ward  to  the  support  of  Baird,  and  deploying  its 
lines  with  Baldwin  on  the  left,  Willich  on  the  right 
and  Dodge  in  the  reserve,  struck  the  left  flank  of 
Liddell's  Division,  driving  first  Govan,  and  then 
Walthall  to  the  right  and  rear  in  much  disorder. 
They  reformed  with  Ector's  and  Wilson's  Brigade, 
also  of  Walker's  Corps,  near  Jay's  Mill. 

At  1  p.  m.,  Cheatjiam's  Division  appeared  on 
Johnson's  right  flank,  and  after  two  hours'  hard 
fighting,  was  reinforced  by  Palmer's  Division, 
which  had  marched  from  Lee  &  Gordon's  Mill  up 
the  Lafayette  Koad  to  the  Poe  house,  and  hastily 
forming  moved  southeast  and  became  heavily  en- 
gaged with  Cheatham's  advancing  left  about  noon. 
Palmer's  left  brigade  (Hazen's)  was  in  touch  with 
Johnson's  right,  and  fought  in  the  Brock  field  with 
Cheatham's  line,  which  it  pushed  back  into  the 
woods  east  of  it. 

On  the  west  line  of  the  field  was  Craft's  Brigade 
and  still  further  to  the  right  Grose's.  The  last  as- 
sault on  Brannan  was  made  on  the  high  ground 
one  mile  west  of  Jay's  Mill,  the  enemy  advancing 
in  heavy  lines  from  the  ravine  one-fourth  mile 
north  of  this  point,  and  charging  desperately.  Van 
Derveer  met  this  attack  by  rapidly  changing  his 
front  to  the  rear  and  quickly  occupying  the  crest 
north  of  the  Rlnggold  Road.  The  battle  raged  fu- 
riously at  all  points  of  the  line  until  1  p.  m.,  at 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  83 

which  hour  both  cavalry  and  infantry  had  been 
forced  back  to  positions  near  Jay's  Mill.  The  losses 
on  both  sides  were  very  severe. 

At  7:30  a.  m.  (the  same  hour  the  battle  opened 
between  Brannan  and  Forrest)  Stanley's  and 
Beatty's  Brigades  of  Negley's  Division  were  en- 
gaged with  Helm's  Brigade  of  Breckenridge's  Di- 
vision on  the  Confederate  left  at  Glass  Mill,  nine 
miles  away.  This  was  mainly  an  artillery  con- 
test, lasting  until  near  11  o'clock,  when  both  sides 
were  withdrawn  and  started  for  the  center  of 
battle. 

It  was  1  o'clock  when  the  battle  on  the  left 
ended.  At  4  p.  m.,  Van  Cleve's  Division  being  in 
position  just  back  of  the  Brotherton  house  was  at- 
tacked by  Stewart's  Division  of  Buckner's  Corps. 
Clayton's  Brigade  advanced  on  the  front,  and  a 
portion  of  Bate's  Brigade  on  the  right.  While  Van 
Cleve's  Division  was  falling  back  before  this  at- 
tack, one  section  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Pennsyl- 
vania Battery  (Lieutenant  S.  M.  McDowell)  and 
four  guns  of  the  Seventh  Indiana  Battery  (Cap- 
tain George  R.  Swallow)  came  to  their  assistance. 
The  division  rallied  upon  the  artillery  and  re- 
mained in  position  fighting  for  half  an  hour,  when 
the  battery  had  exhausted  its  ammunition.  The 
line  being  then  flanked  by  Fulton's  Brigade,  as- 
sisted by  McXair's,  both  of  Bnshrod  Johnson's 


84  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

Division,  after  sharp  fighting  was  forced  back 
through  the  Dyer  field.  Clayton's  and  a  part  of 
Bates'  command  followed  to  the  vicinity  of  the 
tanyard  in  the  Dyer  field.  Xegley's  Division  re- 
ported to  General  Rosecrans  at  Widow  Glenn's  at 
4 :30  p.  m.,  and  was  at  once  sent  forward  to  restore 
the  lines  in  the  Dyer  field.  It  first  met  and  checked 
the  further  advance  of  Clayton's  Brigade  of  Stew- 
art's Division,  which  was  pursuing  Van  Cleve,  and 
had  penetrated  the  Union  lines  nearly  to  the  tan- 
yard.  At  6  p.  m.,  the  division  advanced  with  Sir- 
well's  Brigade  on  the  right  and  Stanley's  on  the 
left  of  the  line. 

Brannan's  Division  having  been  sent  to  the  Dyer 
field  to  aid  in  restoring  the  lines,  entered  the  north 
side  of  the  field  just  as  Negley  appeared  coining 
toward  it  from  Widow  Glenn's  and  being  taken  on 
both  flanks  by  these  two  divisions,  Clayton  with- 
drew into  the  field  east  of  Brotherton's.  Bates  still 
advanced  northward  toward  Poe's,  but  was  met  at 
the  north  line  by  several  batteries,  aggregating 
twenty  guns,  collected  by  General  Reynolds. 
These  batteries  were  supported  by  Palmer's  Divi- 
sion, Hazen  west  of  the  Lafayette  Road,  and  King 
on  the  east  of  it.  After  a  desperate  engagement 
Bates  was  finally  repulsed  about  5  p.  m.,  and  Pal- 
mer's Division  lines  were  established  near  this 
point  for  the  night,  and  thus  the  battle  on  the 
Union  center  for  the  19th  was  ended. 


GLIMPSES  OP  CHICKAMAUGA.  85 

At  2  p.  m.,  Davis,  with  Carlin's  and  Heg's  Bri- 
gades— Post's  being  left  with  the  trains  at  Stev- 
en's Gap — reached  the  vicinity  of  the  Lafayette 
Road  from  near  Widow  Glenn's,  and  with  Barnes' 
Brigade  of  Van  Cl eve's  Division  on  his  right,  and 
Wilder's  mounted  infantry  brigade  of  Reynolds' 
Division  on  his  left,  wheeled  to  the  left  across  the 
road,  moving  in  a  northeasterly  direction,  and  at- 
tacked Trigg's  Brigade  of  Preston's  Division  and 
all  of  Br.shrod  Johnson's  Division.  The  battle 
having  swung  northward  toward  Brotherton's, 
Robertson  and  Benning's  Brigades  of  Law's  Divi- 
sion, took  Johnson's  place,  and  continued  the  re- 
sistance to  Davis'  attack,  finally  driving  his  line 
across  the  Lafayette  Road  in  much  confusion.  At 
4  p.  m.,  Colonel  Heg,  commanding  the  Third  Bri- 
gade, was  killed  in  this  engagement,  and  a  shell 
monument  marks  the  spot.  At  this  time  Wood's 
Division,  with  Buell's  and  Barker's  Brigades 
(Wagner  being  left  at  Chattanooga),  arrived.  Har- 
ker  charged  up  the  Lafayette  Road  beyond  Davis' 
left  and  sent  two  of  his  regiments,  the  &ixt}f -fourth 
and  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fifth  Ohio,  into 
action  in  the  woods  east  of  the  road,  while  he  pro- 
ceeded further  north  with  his  other  two  regiments, 
the  Sixty-fifth  Ohio  and  Third  Kentucky,  and  fell 
upon  the  rear  of  Fulton's  Brigade  of  Bushrod 
Johnson's  Division,  which  had  crossed  to  the  west 


86  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

side  of  the  Lafayette  Road  south  of  Brotherton's, 
and  was  engaging  Van  Cleve,  and  forced  it  back 
east  of  the  road.  Buell's  Brigade  was  first  formed 
behind  Heg's  Brigade  of  Davis'  men  at  the  north- 
west corner  of  the  Viniard  field,  and  was  carried 
away  with  them.  At  this  time  Sheridan's  Divi- 
sion of  McCook's  Corps  arrived  from  Lee  &  Gor- 
don's Mill  and  was  at  once  thrown  into  action  on 
the  right  of  Buell's  Brigade  of  Wood's  Division  to 
engage  the  enemy,  which  had  repulsed  Davis. 
With  the  assistance  of  Wilder's  Brigade,  which 
had  forced  Bushrod  Johnson  to  retire  by  an  en- 
filading fire  and  several  batteries  collected  west  of 
the  road  near  Viniard's,  the  enemy  was  driven 
into  the  woods  east  of  Yiniard's  at  sunset.  Ilar- 
ker  rejoined  the  division  near  Viniard's  at  dark. 

Cheatham's  Division  had  been  driven  back  at  3 
p.  m.  by  Johnson's  Division,  aided  by  Palmer's. 
General  Bragg  ordered  Cleburne,  then  beyond 
the  Chickamauga  and  a  mile  and  a  half  south  of 
Lee  &  Gordon's  Mill,  to  the  support  of  Cheatham's 
Division,  and  of  Walker's  and  Forrest's  Corps, 
then  assembled  at  Jay's  Mill.  Cleburne  arrived 
here  byway  of  Thedford's  Ford  about  6  p.  m.  Form- 
ing his  lines  to  the  right  and  rear  of  Cheatham, 
and  the  left  and  rear  of  Walker,  he  passed  over 
the  latter  and  assisted  by  a  portion  of  Cheatham's 
Division  to  his  left,  attacked  Baird's  and  John- 


GLIMPSES  OP  CHICKAMAUGA.  87 

son's  Divisions  as  they  were  in  the  act  of  with- 
drawing toward  Kelly's  field.  A  desperate  night 
fight  at  close  quarters  resulted,  lasting  about  an 
hour,  in  which  Colonel  Baldwin  of  the  Union  and 
Preston  Smith  of  the  Confederates,  each  of  whom 
were  commanding  brigades,  were  killed,  when  the 
Union  forces  gradually  withdrew  to  the  vicinity  of 
the  Kelly  field,  in  accordance  with  the  orders  they 
had  received  when  attacked,  and  bivouacked  there, 
while  the  Confederates  slept  principally  where 
darkness  found  them.  The  night  was  dark  and 
cheerless;  no  fires  were  permitted  on  either  side. 
Fatigued  with  the  last  night's  march  and  the  great 
nervous  strain  of  the  whole  day's  fighting,  with 
but  little  time  for  rest  and  food,  the  weary  soldiers, 
eating  a  few  hard  tack,  wrapped  themselves  in 
their  blankets,  lay  down  on  the  cold  ground  and 
fell  asleep  on  their  arms.  Details  from  regiments 
and  brigades-  were  busy  cutting  trees  and  drag- 
ging logs  and  rails  to  build  barricades  along  the 
extreme  left  of  the  Union  lines  to  strengthen  their 
position.  How  appropriate  are  these  old  words, 
and  how  strongly  do  they  remind  us  of  camp  and 
field: 

"Comrades  brave  around  me  lying, 

Pilled  with  thoughts  of  Home  and  God, 
For  well  they  know  that  on  the  morrow, 
Some  must  sleep  beneath  the  sod." 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE   BATTLE   OP   SUNDAY,   SEPTEMBER   20,   1863. 

With  the  attack  of  Cleburne  and  Cheatham  upon 
Johnson  and  Baird  after  dark,  the  fighting  was 
ended  for  the  first  day  of  the  battle.  At  sunset 
Negley  had  cleared  the  enemy  from  the  vicinity  of 
Brotherton's,  and  further  to  the  right  at  Viniard's, 
Sheridan  and  Wood  had  driven  the  enemy  well  to 
the  eastward  from  the  Lafayette  Road.  The 
troops  of  both  armies  bivouacked  in  the  positions 
where  darkness  found  them.  During  the  night 
both  army  commanders  prepared  for  a  renewal  of 
the  struggle  at  sunrise.  The  exigencies  of  battle 
had  distorted  the  organization  of  both  armies  so 
that  divisions  had  become  separated  from  their 
corps,  and  brigades  had  become  detached  in  all 
directions  from  their  proper  divisions  to  assist  in 
other  parts  of  the  field.  Post's  Brigade  of  Davis' 
Division  had  remained  at  Steven's  Gap  about  ten 
miles  southwest  from  Crawfish  Springs  to  guard 
the  wagon  trains.  These  trains  were  all  sent  to 
Chattanooga  behind  Missionary  Ridge  during  the 
19th,  and  Post's  Brigade  marched  during  the  night 
to  join  Davis.  The  trains  of  Thomas  and  Critten- 


GEN.   THOMAS    J    WOOD 

WAS  born  in  Kentucky  in  1825.  Graduated  at  West  Point 
in  1845.  Served  in  the  Mexican  War.  October,  1861,  was 
made  Brigadier-general  of  Volunteers.  February,, 1862,  was  a 
Division  Commander  in  the  Department  of  the  Ohio,  and  took 
part  in  the  battles  of  Shiloh  and  Perryville.  Was  wounded  in  the 
battle  of  Stone  River.  Participated  in  the  battle  of  Chicka- 
mauga,  and  commanded  the  4th  Corps  in  the  campaign  against 
Hood  in  Tennessee.  Was  made  a  Major-general  in  1865. 


GEN.   PATRICK    R.   CLEBURNE 


WAS  born  in  Virginia  of  revolutionary  stock  in  1828.     Was 
a  graduate  of  the  U.  S.  Military  Academy,    served  in 
the  war  with  Mexico.    Joined  the  Confederacy  in  1861;  was  a 
brave  and  trusted  officer.      Participated  in  the  Battle  of  Chick- 
amaug-a  as  Major-general. 


COMRADE  JAMES  C.  BOHART. 

BORN  December  12th,  1848,  near  Otisco,  Clark  Co.,  Indiana. 
Removed  to  Graham,  Missouri,  in  1864,  and  in  June  of  that 
year  enlisted  in  Co.  I   48th  Missouri  Infantry,  which  was 
assigned  to  the  16th  Army  Corps  Department  of  the  Cumberland 
under  Georg-e  H.  Thomas,  doing-  valiant  service  to  the  close  of 
the  war.      Is  now  a  member  of  Abraham  Lincoln  Post  No.  91. 
Comrade  Bohart  is  one  of  the  best-known  commission  men  in 
the  Union  Stock  Yards. 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  89 

den  had  been  moving  all  day  from  Crawfish 
Springs  along  the  Dry  Valley  Road  back  of  Widow 
Glenn's,  through  McFarland's  Gap,  toward  Chatta- 
nooga, guarded  by  Minty's  Brigade  of  cavalry, 
which  bivouacked  after  nightfall  about  two  miles 
south  of  Rossville. 

E.  McCook's  Division  of  cavalry  bivouacked  at 
Crawfish  Springs,  while  Crook's  Division  of  cav- 
alry reached  Pond  Springs,  four  miles  to  the  south- 
ward. With  the  departure  of  Breckenridge's  Divi- 
sion from  in  front  of  Lee  &  Gordon's  Mill  early  in 
the  evening,  all  of  the  enemy's  infantry  had 
crossed  to  the  west  side  of  Chickamauga  Creek  be- 
low. Of  the  troops  comprising  Bragg's  army,  the 
division  of  Breckenridge  and  Hindman  and  two 
brigades  of  Preston  had  not  been  seriously  en- 
gaged during  the  day,  although  under  fire.  Dur- 
ing the  night  Kershaw's  and  Humphrey's  Bri- 
gades of  McLaw's  Division  arrived  from  Virginia 
via  Ringgold,  and  Gist's  Brigade  came  from  Home, 
Ga.,  where  it  had  been  on  detached  garrison  duty. 
''General  Longstreet,  the  corps  commander,  had 
also  arrived  from  Virginia,  and  reported  to  Gen- 
eral Bragg  at  11  p.  m.  About  midnight  General 
Rosecrans  decided  to  retire  his  lines  to  better 
grounds  to  his  left,  and  to  refuse  his  entire  right 
wing.  Lytle's  Brigade  was  withdrawn  from  Lee  & 
Gordon's  Mill  at  2  a.  m.,  and  brought  to  Widow 


90  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

Glenn's,  where  General  Rosecrans  had  established 
his  field  headquarters  during  the  forenoon  of  the 
19th. 

Lytle's  Brigade  rejoined  the  rest  of  Sheridan's 
Division  later  when  they  also  had  been  drawn 
back  from  the  Lafayette  Road.  Barnes'  Bri- 
gade was  withdrawn  at  2  a.  m.,  from  the  La- 
fayette Road  south  of  Viniard's,  and  sent  to 
rejoin  its  own  division  (Van  Cleve),  on  the 
slope  of  Mission  Ridge,  near  the  Viteto  house. 
Davis'  Division  at  3  a.  m.  was  also  moved  back  of 
Widow  Glenn's,  while  Wood's  Division  at  5  a.  m. 
was  marched  to  the  rear  and  left,  to  a  position  in 
reserve  on  the  right  of  Van  Cleve.  Wilder's  Bri- 
gade of  mounted  infantry  remained  in  position 
back  of  Viniard's  until  9  a.  m.  of  the  20th,  when  he, 
too,  retired  to  the  rear  of  Widow  Glenn's.  In  Gen- 
eral Bragg's  army  a  rearrangement  of  the  lines 
had  become  necessary  by  reason  of  the  separation 
of  divisions  belonging  to  the  same  army  corps 
which  had  occurred  during  the  day.  Hill's  Corps 
was  reunited  by  sending  Breckenridge's  Division 
over  to  the  right  of  Cleburne  during  the  night, 
but  Folk's  Corps  could  not  be  brought  together  by 
reason  of  the  separation  of  Hindman's  Division 
from  Cheatham's  with  two  Divisions  of  Hood's 
and  one  of  Buckner's  intervening.  On  the  left  was 
Preston's  Division  of  Buckner's  Corps,  having  on 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  91 

its  right  Hiudnian  of  Folk's  Corps,  and  then  John- 
sou's  and  Law's  Divisions  of  Hood's  (Long-street's), 
while  in  advance  of  the  entire  line  to  the  right  and 
front  of  Hood's  troops,  Stewart's  (the  other  divi- 
sion of  Buckner's)  had  bivouacked  fronting  north 
and  west  so  close  to  the  enemy  that  many  captures 
were  made  throughout  the  night  of  Federal  sol- 
diers who  wandered  out  of  ranks.  The  army  was 
then  divided  into  two  wings  irrespective  of  the 
relative  positions  of  corps  or  divisions,  General 
Polk  commanding  the  right,  and  General  Long- 
street  the  left  wing.  By  retiring  his  right  wing 
during  the  night  General  Kosecrans  had  brought 
together  Davis'  and  Sheridan's  Divisions  of  Mc- 
Gook's  Corps,  as  well  as  Van  Cleve's  and  Wood's 
Divisions  of  Crittenden's,  but  the  positions  of 
Johnson's  of  McCook's,  and  Palmer's  Division  of 
Crittenden's,  where  they  remained  between  Baird 
and  Reynolds  of  Thomas'  Corps,  could  not  be  dis- 
turbed. 

Early  on  the  20th,  General  Rosecrans'  line  ran 
from  left  to  right,  as  follows,  by  divisions:  Baird, 
Johnson,  Palmer,  Reynolds,  Negley,  Davis  and 
Sheridan  in  front  line,  with  Brannan  in  reserve  in 
the  right  and  rear  of  Reynolds'  and  Crittenden's 
two  divisions  (Van  Cleve  and  Wood),  as  a  reserve 
to  the  entire  line  posted  west  of  the  Dry  Valley 
Road,  and  on  the  slope  of  Mission  Ridge.  The 


92  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

enemy's  line  was  found  to  extend  considerably  be- 
yond Baird's  left,  which  did  not  sufficiently  cover 
the  road  leading  to  Eossville.  So  one  of  Johnson's 
Brigades  (Dodge)  was  sent  to  fill  the  interval  until 
Negley's  Division  could  be  taken  from  the  line  at 
Brotherton  and  sent  to  the  left  of  Baird.  At  8:30 
a.  m.  only  John  Beatty's  Brigade  of  Negley's  Di- 
vision reached  Baird's  left  and  was  placed  in  line 
between  Dodge  and  King.  Even  then  Dodge's  left 
failed  to  reach  the  Eossville  Road  by  about  200 
yards,  and  that  interval  remained  unfilled  during 
the  remainder  of  the  day.  Brannan's  Division  had 
been  placed  by  General  Thomas  the  night  of  the 
19th  behind  Reynolds'  as  a  movable  reserve  to  the 
rest  of  his  line,  but  as  late  as  8  a.  m.  two  of  Bran- 
nan's  Brigades,  Connell  and  Croxton,  had  moved 
to  the  front  without  the  knowledge  of  General 
Thomas,  up  to  a  line  behind  King's  Brigade  of  Rey- 
nolds' Division,  and  thence  connecting  with  Neg- 
ley's  Division. 

At  the  council  held  at  midnight  on  the  19th  it 
had  been  decided  to  move  Negley's  Division  to  the 
left  of  Baird,  thereby  leaving  Reynolds'  Division 
as  the  right  of  Thomas'  new  line,  but  at  6  a.  m.,  on 
the  20th,  not  only  this  had  not  been  done,  but  part 
of  Brannan's  Division  had  been  moved  forward 
from  his  position  in  reserve  at  Dyer's;  Thomas' 
general  reserve  had  been  disposed  of  without  in- 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  93 

forming  him.  At  6  a.  m.,  orders  were  sent  Gen- 
eral McCook  to  replace  Negley  by  one  of  his  divi- 
sions. Finally  at  9:30  a.  m.,  Wood's  Division  of 
Crittenden's  Corps  moved  forward  to  Negley's 
line  and  Negley's  remaining  two  brigades  pro- 
ceeded toward  the  left  of  Baird,  where  the  enemy 
was  then  attacking  furiously.  The  line  before  the 
attack  ran  by  brigades  from  left  to  right  as  fol- 
lows: Dodge,  Beatty,  King,  Scribner,  Stark- 
weather, Berry  (with  Willich  in  reserve);  Cruft, 
llazen  (with  Grose  in  reserve);  Turchin,  Croxton, 
Connell  (with  Van  Derveer  in  reserve);  Barnes, 
Ilarker,  Buell,  Carlin  (with  Martin  in  reserve);  Lia- 
boldt,  Lytle  and  Wai  worth.  Beyond  the  right  of 
Walworth  was  posted  Harrison's  regiment  of 
mounted  infantry.  Two  miles  away  at  Crawfish 
Springs,  Mitchell's  two  divisions  of  cavalry  under 
Crooks  and"  E.  M.  McCook  were  confronted  by 
Wheeler's  two  divisions  of  cavalry  under  Whartou 
and  Martin. 

To  the  left  in  front  of  Kossville  at  McAffee's 
church  Gordon  Granger's  three  brigades  remained 
in  position,  while  Minty's  Brigade  of  cavalry  was 
sent  forward  northeast  to  Missionary  mills  on 
Chickamauga  Creek  to  reconnoitre.  The  distance 
from  Granger's  position  to  Baird's  was  over  three 
miles.  Van  Cleve  with  two  brigades,  Beatty's  ami 
Dirk's,  ivnr.iined  in  reserve  behind  Brannan, 


94  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

Barnes'  Brigade  had  been  sent  away  with  Wood. 
Negley  with  two  brigades  was  in  motion  toward 
Baird. 

The  two  wings  of  General  Bragg's  army  as 
formed  for  attack  ran  as  follows,  from  right  to  left: 
Forrest's  two  divisions  of  cavalry  (Pegram's  and 
Armstrong's — the  latter  dismounted),  Brecken- 
ridge,  Cleburne,  Stewart,  Bushrod  Johnson,  and 
Ilindman  in  the  front  line,  w^ith  Walker's  two  di- 
visions (Gist  and  Lid  dell)  to  the  right  and  rear  of 
Breckenridge.  Law  and  Kershaw  in  the  rear  of 
Bushrod  Johnson,  forming  a  column  of  three  di- 
visions under  General  Hood.  Preston's  Division 
to  the  left  and  rear  of  Hindman,  and  Cheatham's 
Division  of  five  brigades  in  reserve  behind  Stewart 
in  the  center.  Forrest's  Cavalry,  Breckenridge, 
Walker's  two  divisions  (Cleburne  and  Cheatham) 
constituted  the  right  wing  under  General  Polk, 
while  the  left  wing  under  General  Longstreet  was 
composed  of  the  divisions  of  Stewart,  B.  II.  John- 
son, Law,  Kershaw,  Hindman  and  Preston.  To 
Polk  was  intrusted  the  renewal  of  the  attack  on 
the  Federal  left,  to  be  made  successively  from 
right  to  left,  Breckenridge's  Division  commencing 
at  daylight,  thus  in  a  general  way  continuing  the 
order  of  battle  as  announced  in  General  Bragg's 
circular  of  the  18th.  But  for  some  reason  Gen- 
eral Polk  had  left  his  command  and  crossed  the 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  95 

creek  to  some  retired  spot,  perhaps,  for  a  night 
of  quiet  repose,  which  would  better  enable  him  to 
enter  upon  the  desperate  work  which  he  knew 
awaited  him  on  the  morrow.  To  the  great  disap- 
pointment of  General  Bragg  no  opening  gun  was 
heard  on  his  right  wrhen  daylight  came  on  Sun- 
day morning,  and  with  anxious  longings  he  strode 
back  and  forth,  or  hurriedly  wrote  an  order  and 
dispatched  an  orderly  to  his  right  to  learn  the 
cause  of  the  delay.  This  was  repeated  several 
times  and  the  final  report  was  that  Polk  could  not 
be  found.  As  a  last  resort  General  Bragg  rode  in 
person  to  the  right  and  dispatched  an  officer 
across  the  river,  who  found  General  Polk  and 
asked  for  an  explanation  concerning  his  tardi- 
ness. His  reply  was  that  he  proposed  to  give  his 
men  time  to  cook  their  breakfast  before  he  ordered 
an  attack.  General  Hill  was  guilty  of  the  same  of- 
fense and  they  were  both  relieved  of  their  com- 
mands soon  after  the  battle  by  General  Bragg. 
For  this  reason  the  attack  was  delayed  until  9:30 
a.  m.,  thereby  giving  time  for  General  Rosecrans 
to  readjust  his  line  and  to  materially  strengthen 
his  position  with  logs  and  breastworks. 

The  Union  center  w^as  back  of  the  Brotherton 
field,  and  the  left  ran  along  the  south  and  east 
sides  of  the  Kelly  field.  Breckenridge  was  in  front 
of  Baird's  position  on  the  Union  left,  and  at  9:30 


96  GLIMPSES  OP  CHICKAMAUGA. 

i 

a.  in.  he  advanced  upon  Baird  with  Helm's  Bri- 
gade on  the  left,  Stovall  in  the  center,  and  Adams 
on  the  right.  Helm's  Brigade  advancing,  came 
under  heavy  fire  from  the  front,  and  an  enfilading 
fire  of  infantry  and  artillery  from  the  left.  The 
formation  from  right  to  left  was  Sixth  and  Fourth 
Kentucky,  Forty-first  Alabama,  Ninth  and  Second 
Kentucky.  In  advancing,  the  Sixth  and  Fourth 
Kentucky  and  seven  companies  of  the  Forty-first 
Alabama  passed  to  the  right  of  the  Union  breast- 
works and  continued  with  the  rest  of  the  division 
to  the  Lafayette  Road,  driving  two  regiments  of 
John  Beatty's  Brigade  before  it,  and  capturing 
two  guns  of  Bridge's  Battery  immediately  west  of 
the  road.  The  Second  and  Ninth  Kentucky  and 
three  companies  of  the  Forty-first  Alabama  struck 
the  breastworks  and  were  repulsed  in  three  suc- 
cessive assaults.  General  Helm  was  killed  on  this 
ground  while  rallying  his  line  in  its  recoil  from  one 
of  these  assaults — a  monument  of  shells  marks  the 
spot. 

Stovall  and  Adams  reached  the  Lafayette  Road 
with  serious  opposition,  then  changing  fronts  to 
the  left,  marched  south,  Adams  being  on  the  right 
and  Stovall  on  the  left  of  the  Lafayette  Road,  to  a 
point  in  the  Kelly  field  quite  in  rear  of  the  Union 
left.  Beatty  with  a  portion  of  his  force  first 
strongly  resisted  and  then  with  the  help  of  Stan- 


LEE  AND  GORDON'S   MILL. 


THIS  old  frame  structure,  standing-  on  the  west  bank  of 
Chickamauga  Creek,  is  one  of  the  most  important  land- 
marks of  the  Civil  War.  Its  old  water-wheel  and  dam 
are  still  there  as  in  September,  1863,  when  it  separated  two 
mighty  armies,  and  ground  out  the  grists  of  corn,  first  for  the 
Johneys  and  then  for  the  Yanks,  while  the  water  was  nearly 
crimsoned  with  human  blood.  As  we  stand  and  look  upon  the 
mill  and  stream,  and  contrast  the  wonderful  change  that  has 
been  made  in  all  this  section  since  the  close  of  the  war,  we 
are  ready  to  declare  that  the  South,  though  a  failure  in  war, 
is  triumphant  in  peace. 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  97 

ley's  Brigade  of  Negley's  Division,  which  had  been 
ordered  to  the  left  of  Baird  at  6  a.  m.,  but  had  just 
arrived,  checked  the  advance  of  Adams'  Brigade, 
Adams  being  wounded  and  captured  by  the  Nine- 
teenth Illinois  Kegiment.  At  this  point  Van  Der- 
veer's  Brigade  of  Braunan's  Division  on  its  way  to 
assist  Baird,  emerged  from  the  woods  on  the  west 
of  the  road,  wheeled  into  the  face  of  Stovall's  Bri- 
gade, charged  it,  and  drove  it  back,  pursuing  to  a 
point  100  yards  north  of  the  Kelly  field.  From  this 
line,  assisted  by  the  brigades  of  Grose  and  Dodge, 
and  parts  of  Willich's  and  Berry's  Brigades,  de- 
tachments from  Palmer's  and  Johnson's  Divisions, 
Breckenridge's  whole  Division  was  driven  back 
and  around  the  Union  left  and  was  withdrawn 
towards  its  original  position  of  the  morning,  and 
was  replaced  by  Gist's  and  Liddell's  Division  of 
Walker's  Corps.  Gist  with  his  own  Brigade  (Col- 
quitt)  moved  to  the  attack  supported  by  Wilson 
and  Ector  over  the  ground  from  which  Helm's 
Brigade  had  been  repulsed.  Its  left  was  enfiladed 
from  the  east  salient  of  the  Union  line.  The  bri- 
gade wheeled  to  the  left  till  parallel  to  the  regu- 
lar brigade  at  the  left  of  General  Baird's  line  and 
attacked  it.  Colquitt  advancing  came  in  contact 
with  the  left  of  Baird  and  met  with  a  murderous 
fire.  Wilson  and  Ector,  the  supporting  brigades, 
being  reduced  to  500  men  each,  could  do  but  little 


98  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

toward  the  support  of  Colquitt.  After  thirty  min- 
utes of  hard  fighting,  during  which  one-third  of  the 
men,  and  all  but  two  of  the  field  officers  were  killed 
or  wounded,  and  Colonel  Colquitt  being  killed, 
the  brigade  fell  back  fighting  to  its  first  position. 
Goran's  Brigade  of  Liddell's  Division  being 
formed  on  the  low  ground  east  of  the  grade  at  the 
rear  of  the  Kelly  field  was  moving  westward,  when 
it  was  ordered  to  change  directions  to  the  left  and 
advance  to  the  assistance  of  Gist.  Before  Go  van 
reached  him,  Gist  had  been  repulsed.  Continuing 
the  circular  movement  to  the  left,  Govan's  left  reg- 
iment struck  the  log  works  at  the  Union  left,  his 
right  continued  to  press  the  enemy  across  an  open 
field  south  to  McDonald's,  and  crossing  the  Lafay- 
ette Road  swung  into  the  rear  of  the  Union  left. 
The  brigade  being  isolated  was  enfiladed,  over- 
lapped and  broken,  endangering  the  right,  which 
was  driving  the  enemy.  To  avoid  capture  the  bri- 
gade retired  by  a  circuitous  route  westward  and 
northward.  Reaching  the  glade  it  was  again 
formed  on  the  low  ground  east  of  it.  At  9 :15  a.  m., 
Folk's  Brigade  of  Cleburne's  Division,  with 
Wood's  Brigade  on  its  left,  and  two  batteries 
formed  on  the  left  of  Breckenridge's  Division  on 
its  right,  moved  forward  on  a  line  about  a  half 
mile  east  of  the  Kelly  field  and  attacked  the  Union 
breastworks  on  the  crest.  After  terrific  fighting 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  99 

for  an  hour  and  a  half,  being  out  of  ammunition, 
the  brigade  fell  back  400  yards,  where  it  remained 
until  4  p.  in.  Walthall's  Brigade  of  LiddelFs  Divi- 
sion formed  on  the  left  of  Govau's  Brigade  and 
was  sent  to  assist  Folk's  Brigade.  Reaching  the 
vicinity  of  Folk's  line,  the  brigade  attacked  the 
Union  works  and  was  enfiladed  from  their  east 
salient.  Its  left  was  driven  back,  the  right  was 
ordered  to  cease  firing,  and  the  brigade  then  re- 
tired and  was  moved  to  the  low  ground  east  of  the 
glade,  where  it  formed  with  Govan  on  its  left;  both 
brigades  remained  here  until  about  5  p.  m. 
Cheatham,  on  account  of  his  severe  losses  on  the 
previous  day,  was  not  used  in  this  assault  upon 
our  left,  and  now  Cleburne  and  Breckenridge 
were  in  no  better  condition.  The  fact  being  estab- 
lished that  the  Union  lines  at  this  point  were 
stronger  than  the  enemy,  they  were  not  disturbed 
again  and  withdrew  from  the  position  in  the  even- 
ing. Thomas  had  sent  for  Brannan's  Division, 
which,  according  to  the  agreement  of  the  council 
held  at  midnight,  was  to  have  been  left  for  a 
movable  reserve,  but  which  had  without  his 
knowledge  been  moved  to  the  front  line  at  Foe's. 
Brannan  being  under  attack  at  the  moment  of  re- 
ceiving the  order  held  the  line,  but  in  partial  com- 
pliance sent  Van  Derveer's  Brigade,  which  ar- 
rived just  in  time  to  save  the  Union  left  as  has 


100  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

been  before  related.  Upon  the  supposition  that 
Brannan  had  obeyed  the  order  to  move  to  the  sup- 
port of  the  left,  General  Eosecrans  ordered  Wood 
at  10:45  a.  m.  to  close  rapidly  on  Reynolds  and  sup- 
port him.  Wood,  who  must  have  known  that  the 
order  could  not  have  been  right,  obeyed  it  literally, 
drew  out  of  the  line  and  moved  to  the  rear  of  Bran- 
nan  toward  Reynolds,  leaving  a  gap  in  the  Union 
center.  Barnes'  Brigade  at  the  beginning  of  the 
movement  was  dispatched  to  Baird's  support  on 
the  extreme  left.  Just  as  Barker's  Brigade,  mov- 
ing next  in  rear  of  Barnes,  had  gained  the  rear  of 
Brannan,  Hood's  column  of  Long-street's  Corps 
emerging  from  the  forest  east  of  the  Brothertou 
house  with  Johnson's  Division  in  advance,  fol- 
lowed by  Law  and  Kershaw,  attacked  at  11  a.  in. 
Johnson's  Division  passed  through  the  gap  made 
by  Wood's  Division  at  once  and  pursued  BuelFs 
Brigade,  which  he  had  struck  in  flank  as  they  were 
clearing  the  gap  to  and  beyond  the  Dyer  house. 

Hood's  Corps,  consisting  of  Law,  Robertson,  Ker- 
shaw, Benning  and  Humphrey's  Brigades,  follow- 
ing-Johnson, attacked  Brannan's  Division,  forcing- 
it  to  the  rear.  Barker's  Brigade  of  Wood's  Divi- 
sion, which  was  moving  to  the  left  toward  Rey- 
nolds, hastily  turned  back  into  the  Dyer  field  and 
formed  facing  south  met  Law's  Division  of  Hood's 
advancing  column  and  effectually  checked  its  ad- 


GEN.  JOHN    B.  HOOD. 

BORN  in  Kentucky  in  1830.  Died  of  yellow  fever  in  New 
Orleans  in  1879.  Was  a  graduate  of  West  Point;  left  the 
United  States  army  and  joined  the  Confederates  in  18G1, 
receiving1  the  appointment  of  Brigadier- general.  Was  pro- 
moted to  Major-general  in  1802,  and  commanded  the  largest 
division  of  Longstreet's  corps  at  Gettysburg.  He  lost  a  leg  at 
Chickamauga;  superseded  Johnston  in  1SC4,  and  was  in  the 
defense  of  Atlanta  in  July  of  that  year.  Was  defeated  at 
Xashville,  driven  into  Alabama,  and  was  relieved  of  command 
by  General  R.  Taylor. 


GENERAL  JOHN   M.   BRANNON 

WAS  born  near  Washington,  D.  C.,  in  1819;  graduated  from 
the  United  States  Military  Academy  in  1841;  was  in  the 
Mexican  War,  was  made  a  Brigadier- general  in  1861,  assigned 
to  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  in  18G3,  participated  in  the 
battles  of  Hoovers  Gap,  Tullahoma,  Elk  River  and  Chickamauga. 
Was  made  Chief  of  Artillery  under  Geo.  H.  Thomas,  partici- 
pated in  the  battle  of  Missionary  Ridge,  accompanied 
General  Sherman  on  the  Atlanta  Campaign.  He  was  a  gallant, 
s1' ill  ful  and  hit  epid  soldier.  Is  at  present  a  resident  of 
Yurk  City. 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  101 

vance  by  close  and  severe  fighting.  In  this  part 
of  the  engagement  General  Hood  was  severely 
wounded  and  Law's  Division  was  so  badly  cut  up 
in  advancing  that  it  was  not  able  to  take  part  in 
the  assault  on  Snodgrass  Hill.  Kershaw's  Divi- 
sion replaced  Law's  and  pushed  Harker  back  in 
succession  from  two  advancing  positions.  This  re- 
sistance of  Harker  enabled  Brannan  to  reform  his 
line  and  move  to  the  right  of  Snodgrass  house, 
where  he  also  assembled  many  fragments  of  regi- 
ments and  was  joined  by  Harker,  who  had  been 
pushed  back  by  Kershaw.  About  10  a.  m.  there 
was  a  heavy  attack  from  Stewart's  troops  on 
King's  Brigade  of  Reynold's  Division  of  Thomas' 
Corps,  which,  after  severe  fighting,  was  repulsed. 
Upon  Brannan's  withdrawal  to  Snodgrass  Hill 
King's  Brigade  was  moved  across  the  road  until 
its  left  joined  Turchin's,  which  had  been  refused. 
Its  line  then  faced  the  Poe  house,  where  it  re- 
mained without  serious  engagement  during  the 
afternoon.  At  10  a.  m.,  Davis'  Division  of  Mc- 
Cook's  Corps,  with  Carlin's  Brigade  in  line  in  front, 
followed  by  Heg's  (now  Martin's),  moved  forward 
and  connected  with  the  right  of  Wood's  Division, 
which  had  relieved  Negley's  Division  of  Thomas' 
Corps  on  the  front  line  west  of  the  Brotherton 
house. 

Upon  the  withdrawal  of  Wood's  Division  to  the 


102  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

left  Martin  took  position  in  line  on  the  left  of  Car- 
lin.  At  11:15  Davis  was  attacked  by  Hood's  and 
Hindinan's  troops  and  both  flanks  were  soon  en- 
veloped. After  brief  and  desperate  fighting,  and 
in  spite  of  assistance  from  Liaboldt's  and  Lytle's 
Brigade  of  Sheridan's  Division  the  troops  were 
overwhelmed  and  driven  over  Lytle's  Brigade. 
Here  General  Lytle  was  killed  while  rallying  his 
troops.  The  spot  where  he  fell  is  marked  by  a  shell 
monument.  The  brigade  wras  consequently  driven 
off  the  field,  and  Davis  withdrew  hastily  and  was 
pursued  by  Deas'  and  Anderson's  Brigade  of  Hind- 
man's  Division  and  the  Tenth  and  Nineteenth 
South  Carolina  Regiments  of  Manigault's  Brigade 
to  the  crest  of  the  high  ground  west  of  the  Craw- 
fish Spring  Road.  Davis  withdrew  still  farther  to 
McFarland's  Gap.  Manigault's  Brigade  of  Hind- 
man'  s  Division  upon  reaching  the  vicinity  of 
Widow  Glenn's  was  attacked  by  Wilder's  Brigade 
and  Harrison's  Regiment  of  mounted  infantry, 
and  its  three  left  regiments  were  repulsed  and 
forced  back  across  the  Lafayette  Road.  At  the 
time  of  the  break  in  the  lines  at  Brotherton's 
house,  General  Rosecrans  was  on  the  high  ground 
east  of  the  Viteto  house  overlooking  the  Dyer  field. 
He  rode  to  the  right  to  hasten  the  movements  of 
Sheridan's  troops  from  the  vicinity  of  Widow 
Glenn's  to  the  left.  He  found  himself  cut  off  from 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  103 

the  left  of  the  army  with  Sheridan's  and  Davis' 
Divisions,  as  were  also  Crittenden  and  McCook. 
Rosecrans  proceeded  by  the  Dry  Valley  Road  to 
Chattanooga,  leaving  General  Thomas  in  com- 
mand of  the  field.  Thus  the  Confederate  main  col- 
umn of  attack,  favored  by  the  movements  of  the 
four  Union  brigades  and  the  gap  made  in  the  line 
by  Wood's  Division,  broke  the  Union  line  in  the 
center;  separated  Davis  and  Sheridan's  Divisions 
from  the  rest  of  the  army,  broke  and  crowded 
Wood's,  Van  Cleve  and  Brannan's  Divisions  and 
part  of  Reynolds'  Brigade  to  the  left  and  rear  of 
the  break,  captured  nine  pieces  of  artillery,  stam- 
peded the  teamsters,  who  unhitched  and  rode  off 
the  horses,  leaving  thirty  wagons  of  ammunition 
and  three  cannons  in  the  hands  of  the  Confeder- 
ates. The  Union  right  and  a  portion  of  the  left 
was  crushed  and  their  former  lines  were  marked 
by  hundreds  of  killed  and  thousands  of  wounded 
soldiers,  who  were  lying  scattered  through  the 
woods  and  open  fields  in  the  rear,  while  the  am- 
munition trains  and  cannon  and  ambulances  of 
half  an  army  were  falling  into  the  hands  of  the 
Confederates.  Union  prisoners  were  hurried 
through  the  enemy's  lines  in  droves,  the  Confeder- 
ates shouting  the  while  at  the  victory  almost 
gained.  General  Brannan,  who,  when  the  head  of 
Hood's  column  pierced  the  Union  lines  at  Broth- 


104  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

erton's  house  had  been,  after  stout  *  resistance, 
forced  back  in  considerable  disorder,  rapidly  ral- 
lied on  Horseshoe  Ridge,  where  he  also  gathered 
other  forces  and  fragments  of  other  regiments, 
numbering  in  all  about  2,500.  The  forces  under 
General  Thomas  on  Snodgrass  Hill  were  ar- 
ranged as  follows,  from  left  to  right: 

Hazen's  Brigade  of  Palmer's  Division,  Harker's 
Brigade  of  Wood's  Division,  Stanley's  Brigade  of 
Negley's  Division,  part  of  Croxton's  and  ConnelPs 
Brigades  of  Brannan's  Division.  This  short,  thin 
line  on  the  hill  was  made  up  of  men  who  hud  de- 
termined to  fight  till  the  last.  The  top  of  this  ridge 
was  very  narrow  and  was  well  adapted  for  de- 
fense. The  troops  could  mount  the  elevation,  fire 
at  the  enemy,  and  falling  back  a  few  paces  could 
reload  in  safety,  being  entirely  protected  from  the 
enemy  by  a  natural  breastwork.  It  was  the  same 
with  the  artillery — after  loading,  the  piece  was  run 
forward  a  few  paces,  fired,  and  the  recoil  would 
send  it  far  enough  back  to  be  reloaded  in  safety.' 
The  Confederate  forces  taking  part  in  the  assault 
on  Snodgrass  Hill  were  composed  of  eleven  bri- 
gades, as  follows: 

Gregg's  (Sugg's)  Brigade;  McNair's-and  Fulton's 
Brigades  of  Johnson's  Division  of  Hood's  Corps; 
Kershaw's  a  IN!  Humphrey's  Brigades  of  Ker- 
shaw's  Division,  Hood's  Corps;  Oracle's,  Trigg's 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  105 

and  Kelly's  Brigades,  Preston's  Division,  Buck- 
ner's  Corps;  Anderson's,  Deas'  and  Manigault's 
Brigades  of  Hindnian's  Divisions  of  Folk's  Corps. 
While  these  Confederate  forces  are  preparing  to 
assault  the  ridge  let  us  again  look  at  the  Union 
left  around  the  Kelly  field.  At  11  a.  m.  Arm- 
strong's Division  of  Forrest's  Cavalry  Corps  cap- 
tured the  Union  hospitals  at  the  Cloud  house  and 
spring,  after  which  there  was  almost  no  fighting 
along  the  Kelly  field  front.  The  troops  of  both 
sides  rested  on  their  arms  listening  to  the  sounds 
of  the  guns  as  assault  after  assault  was  made  on 
Suodgrass  Hill.  After  being  repeatedly  repulsed, 
Fulton's  Brigade  of  Johnson's  Division  crossed 
the  ridge  and  came  into  the  rear  of  Brannan, 
whose  troops  had  used  their  last  cartridge  and 
were  standing  behind  their  bayonets.  All  seemed 
lost;  but  not  so.  Gordon  Granger,  three  miles 
away  at  McAffee's  church,  an  hour  and  a  half  ago, 
judging  by  the  firing  that  General  Thomas  was 
hard  pressed,  marched  in  haste  with  Steedman's 
Division  to  his  assistance,  guided  by  the  sound  of 
the  guns  and  without  orders.  While  passing  near 
Cloud  house  on  the  Lafayette  road,  Forrest's  Cav- 
alry attacked  his  flank,  but  without  delaying  him. 
He  deployed  Whittaker's  Brigade  upon  the  high 
ground  west  of  this  road  and  drove  the  enemy's 
cavalry  away  from  the  Union  hospital  at  Cloud 


106  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

Springs,  sent  back  for  McCook's  Brigade,  aiid  post- 
ing it  on  the  crest  next  south  of  the  Cloud  house 
and  west  of  McDonald's,  rapidly  pressed  on  with 
the  rest  of  his  command ;  and  at  the  head  of  Steed- 
man's  reached  Snodgrass  Hill  and  attacked  John- 
son's troops,  who  had  appeared  in  the  rear  of  Bran- 
nan,  with  great  vigor,  and  by  fighting  which  cost 
at  least  a  third  of  the  men  engaged,  drove  them 
back  to  their  guns  near  Viteto.  Van  Derveer's  bri- 
gade arrived  at  this  time  from  its  engagement  in 
the  north  end  of  the  Kelly  field  and  further 
strengthened  Brannan's  lines.  It  .  had  also 
marched  without  orders  toward  the  sound  of  the 
guns  as  had  Granger.  Van  Derveer's  Battery  was 
engaged  throughout  the  afternoon  at  the  Snod- 
grass house,  where  it  had  been  posted  by  General 
Negley  about  11  a.  m.  Colonel  Stanley's  Brigade 
was  divided,  the  Eighteenth  Ohio  being  placed  to 
the  left  of  Van  Derveer's  Battery  (Fourteenth 
United  States  Artillery)  as  a  support.  The  Elev- 
enth Michigan  on  the  left  of  the  front  line  and  the 
Nineteenth  on  the  right  joining  General  Brannan. 
Colonel  Stanley  was  wounded  about  noon  and 
( 1olonel  Stoughton  took  command.  At  2  p.  m.,  Ker- 
shaw's  Division  assaulted  Ilarker's  line  at  the 
crest,  but  after  several  desperate  attacks  lasting 
an  hour  was  repulsed.  At  3  p.  m.,  another  assault 
was  delivered  lasting  until  after  4  o'clock,  with 


GEN.  JAMES    B.  STEEDMAN 

WAS  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1818.     Was  Colonel  of  Ohio 
Volunteers  in  1861.    Was  appointed  Brigadier-general  in 
1862,  distinguished  himself  at  the  battle  of  Perryville, 
commanded  a  division  of  the  Reserve  Corps  of  the  Army  of  the 
Cumberland  in  1863,  and  was  commissioned  Major-general  for 
distinguished  services  in  the  battle  of  Chickamauga.     Served  in 
the  Atlanta  Campaign,  and  when  Sherman  departed  for  the  sea 
joined  General  Thomas  in   Tennessee   and  participated  in   the 
battle  of  Nashville.     In  1 886  he  became  Revenue  Collector  at 
New  Orleans, 


GENERAL  JOHN   M.   PALMER 

WAS  born  in  Kentucky  in  1817,  became  a  resident  of  Illinois 
in  1832,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1840,  served  in  the 
State  Senate  from  1852  to  1854,  was  a  delegate  to  the  Peace 
Convention  in  18G1.  Immediately  upon  his  return  organized 
the  14th  Illinois  regiment,  and  was  under  Freemont  in  Missouri. 
Was  at  the  capture  of  New  Madrid  and  Island  No.  10,  and  for 
bravery  was  made  a  Brigadier-general.  Was  a  division  com- 
mander under  Grant  and  Rosecrans  in  1862.  For  gallant  con- 
duct at  the  battle  of  Stone  River  was  made  a  Major-general. 
Was  made  Commander  of  the  14th  Army  Corps  for  heroism  at 
the  battle  of  C'hickamauga.  Elected  Governor  of  Illinois  in 
1869,  and  is  at  present  United  States  Senator, 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  «  107 

similar  results.  Kershaw's  assaults  were  of  the 
most  impetuous  and  stubborn  character.  Gracie's 
and  Kelly's  Brigades  of  Preston's  Division  (fresh 
troops)  shortly  before  5  p.  in.  attacked  the  fronts 
of  Marker,  Stanley  and  Brannan.  The  attack 
lasted  over  an  hour.  It  failed  in  front  of  Ilar- 
ker,  although  Gracie  obtained  possession  of 
the  salient  of  the  Union  line  in  Stanley's  center, 
now  commanded  by  Stoughton,  and  held  it  for  an 
hour,  but  was  finally  forced  to  retire.  Granger's 
troops,  after  fighting  with  great  intensity  until 
sundown,  being  out  of  ammunition,  withdrew 
under  orders  to  the  next  ridge  in  the  rear,  followed 
by  the  enemy  to  the  foot  of  the  ridge.  Kelly's  Bri- 
gade of  Preston's  Division,  after  having  failed  in 
the  attack  on  Harker,  Stanley  and  Brannan,  bore 
to  the  left  and  as  they  reached  the  crest  of  the 
ridge  found  themselves  confronted  by  three  Union 
regiments,  the  Eighty-ninth  and  Twenty-first  Ohio, 
and  Twenty-second  Michigan,  which  had  been  left 
on  this  line  by  mistake  when  Granger's  troops 
withdrew  at  sunset  to  the  next  ridge  in  the  rear. 
Trigg's  Brigade  having  passed  to  the  left  of  Kel- 
ly's crossed  the  ridge  at  dusk  and  turned  to  the 
right  in  the  rear  of  these  regiments,  and  acting 
in  conjunction  with  Kelly  captured  a  large  portion 
of  them.  These  brigades  next  attempted  by  a  simi- 
lar move  to  capture  Van  Derveer's  Brigade  on 


108  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

Brannan's  right,  but  were  defeated.  This  was  the 
last  engagement  on  the  field.  Van  Derveer's  Bri- 
gade was  withdrawn  at  7:45  p.  m.,  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Captain  Tilly,  one  of  his  staff  officers'. 

It  was  dark  and  the  fighting  had  ceased.  Grang- 
er's Corps  marched  to  Kossville  via  McFarland's 
Gap,  at  7  p.  in.  Wood's  and  Brannan's  lines  were 
withdrawn  from  Snodgrass  Hill  via  McFarland's 
Gap  to  Rossville.  At  5  p.  m.,  General  Thomas  is- 
sued an  order  for  the  withdrawal  of  the  troops 
around  the  Kelly  field.  Reynold's  Division  moved 
first,  being  withdrawn  without  molestation  by  col- 
umns of  brigades  moving  northward  on  each  side 
of  the  Lafayette  Road  to  the  fields  south  of  McDon- 
ald's and  supported  a  charge  of  Turchin's  Brigade 
(Willich  assisting)  along  the  front  of  Liddell's 
Division,  forcing  it  eastward  to  the  Lafayette 
Road,  capturing  most  of  his  skirmishers  and  pass- 
ing the  front  of  McCook's  Brigade,  formed  in  the 
rear  to  the  left,  and  together  with  Willich's  Bri- 
gade, after  covering  the  withdrawal  of  the  rest  of 
the  Kelly  field  line,  it  withdrew  to  Rossville.  Pal- 
mer's Division  next  moved  in  columns  of  regiments 
at  long  intervals,  encountering  a  severe  artillery 
fire  from  both  flanks,  but  suffering  little  loss,  and 
crossing  the  Lafayette  Road  proceeded  to  Ross- 
ville. At  5:30,  Johnson  was  ordered  to  follow-  Pal- 
mer in  withdrawing. 


THE  KELLY  HOUSE. 


THE  center  of  the  great  battle-field  of  Chickamauga;  fight- 
ing to  the  South  of  it,  North  of  it,  East  of  it,  West  of  it. 
Here  the  troops  of  Thomas'  Corps  halted  at  daylight  on  Sep- 
tember 19th,  1863,  and  formed  the  extreme  Union  left.  After 
an  all-night  march,  and  before  the  boys  could  make  a  cup  of 
coffee,  the  battle  opened  a  mile  east,  at  Jay's  Mill,  and  the  order 
"Fall  in"  was  given.  Soon  a  general  engagement  was  on,  last- 
ing until  1  P.  si.,  leaving  this  field  strewn  with  the  dead  and 
wounded. 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  109 

Being  heavily  attacked  at  this  moment  Johnson 
and  Baird  maintained  their  lines  for  a  short  time 
and  then  withdrew  in  haste  and  some  disorder  to 
the  woods  west  of  the  Kelly  field.  They  were  not 
followed  into  the  forest  and  moved  thence  into 
Rossville  by  way  of  McFarland's  Gap.  That  por- 
tion of  our  army  which  had  ben  forced  off  the  field 
earlier  in  the  day  had  retreated  to  Rossville  so  that 
the  whole  of  the  army  was  now  at  Rossville,  ex- 
cept Van  Cleve's  Division,  which  had  been  sent  to 
Chattanooga.  The  army  was  now  placed  in  posi- 
tion to  guard  Rossville  Gap  and  Missionary  Ridge 
to  the  right  and  left  of  it,  and  the  valley  to  Look- 
out Mountain.  Rosecrans'  object  in  withdrawing 
was  to  again  place  his  army  firmly  between  Bragg 
and  Chattanooga;  it  remained  in  this  position 
throughout  the  21st,  marching  to  Chattanooga 
during  the  night,  and  on  Tuesday  the  22d  its  lines 
were  firmly  established  around  the  city.  So  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland  had  accomplished  the  ob- 
ject of  its  campaign. 

Rosecrans'  loss  during  the  battle  was  16,179; 
this  includes  4,774  missing,  many  of  whom  were 
either  killed  or  wounded. 

Bragg's  losses  were  17,804. 

The  total  loss  for  each  army  was  about  33  per 
cent,  on  each  side  for  the  troops  actually  engaged. 


110  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

THE  ARMY  OP  THE  CUMBERLAND  AT  CHATTANOOGA. 

During  the  night  of  the  21st  the  Union  forces 
were  withdrawn  to  Chattanooga,  and  by  evening 
of  the  22d  its  lines  had  been  formed  and  rifle  pits 
thrown  up  completely  covering  the  front  of  the 
city. 

Bragg  at  once  ordered  a  general  movement  upon 
Chattanooga,  his  intrenched  lines  commencing  at 
Tunnel  Hill,  the  north  end  of  Missionary  Ridge,  fol- 
lowed the  crest  to  Rossville,  and  across  Chatta- 
nooga Valley  to  the  point  of  Lookout  Mountain, 
which  was  strongly  fortified.  General  Stevenson 
being  in  command  with  15,000  men,  and  artillery 
placed  so  as  to  command  the  river.  Confederate 
troops  were  also  stationed  in  Lookout  Valley  and 
on  Raccoon  Mountain,  with  pickets  extending 
down  the  river,  commanding  the  road  on  the  north 
bank,  and  rendering  it  useless  to  the  Union  army. 
This  confined  the  Federal  lines  of  supplies  to  the 
mountain  road  over  Walden's  Ridge,  making 
I'mgg's  investment  complete. 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  Ill 

Thus  the  Confederates,  with  a  vastly  superior 
force,  were  fortified  to  the  east,  south  and  west, 
and  commanded  the  river  below.  Practically  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland  was  besieged. 

Bragg  advanced  skirmishers  along  his  front  on 
September  25  to  find  whether  the  Union  forces 
were  evacuating.  Discovering  Confederates  in 
force  on  Lookout  Mountain,  General  Rosecrans 
placed  McCook's  Corps  at  Moccasin  Point,  oppo- 
site Lookout.  It  was  not  considered  possible  for 
Bragg  to  carry  the  Union  works,  but  early  in  Oc- 
tober the  Federal  forces  became  very  ghort  of 
rations,  and  unless  supplies  could  be  obtained  the 
evacuation  of  Chattanooga  was  but  a  question  of 
time.  General  Grant  was  assigned  to  the  com- 
mand of  the  Union  forces,  which  were  known  as 
the  Department  of  the  Ohio  and  of  the  Cumber- 
land, on  the  16th  of  October,  but  did  not  arrive 
in  Chattanooga  until  the  23d  of  that  month.  By 
request  of  General  Grant,  General  Thomas  suc- 
ceeded General  Rosecrans  on  October  19th.  The 
Eleventh  and  Twelfth  Corps  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  composed  of  two  divisions  each,  under 
General  Hooker,  reached  Bridgeport,  September 
30.  The  movements  ef  the  four  divisions  of  Grant's 
army  from  the  Mississippi  to  Chattanooga  began 
at  Vicksburg,  September  23.  November  18th,  Gen- 
eral Sherman's  troops  reached  Lookout  Valley. 


112  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

During  October  both  the  Union  and  the  Confeder- 
ate armies  were  reorganized.  Grant  at  once  began 
operations  for  the  reopening  of  the  Tennessee 
River  to  Bridgeport. 


GLIMPSES  OF  CH1CKAMAUGA.  113 


CHAPTER  X. 
BATTLE  OF  BROWN'S* FERRY. 

In  less  than  thirty  days  after  the  battle  of  Chick- 
amauga,  Chattanooga  was  securely  fortified.  On 
October  1st,  Wheeler's  Cavalry  crossed  the  Ten- 
nessee River,  moved  up  the  Sequatchie  Valley  and 
attacked  our  wagon  trains  at  Anderson's  Cross- 
roads, capturing  and  destroying  over  300  wagons, 
loaded  writh  rations  for  the  troops  at  Chatta- 
nooga. The  timely  arrival  in  this  vicinity  of 
Colonel  E.  M.  McCook  with  his  cavalry  division 
doubtless  saved  further  loss  of  supplies  as  Wheeler 
was  driven  with  great  loss  to  the  south  side  of  the 
river,  and  some  800  mules  were  recaptured.  The 
loss  of  these  wagons,  with  the  roads  becoming  al- 
most impassable,  owing  to  the  heavy  rains,  les- 
sened daily  the  amount  of  rations  so  that  the 
troops  wrere  suffering  for  food.  The  only  hope  of 
obtaining  supplies  was  the  reopening  of  the  Ten- 
nessee River  to  Bridgeport.  General  Rosecrans 
was  anxiously  awaiting  the  arrival  of  General 


114  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

Hooker  at  the  latter  point,  so  that  he  might  throw 
his  pontoons  across  the  river,  cross  with  his  forces, 
and  move  on  to  Chattanooga.  Upon  the  arrival  of 
General  Hooker,  October  1st,  it  was  found  that  he 
had  turned  in  his  wagon  trains  at  Alexandria,  ex- 
pecting to  be  refitted  at  Nashville,  the  crossing- 
was  consequently  delayed. 

October  19th,  General  Rosecrans  made  a  careful 
survey  of  the  river  and  selected  Brown's  Ferry  as 
the  most  available  point  for  a  crossing.  The  bridge 
was  finally  placed  there  by  General  Smith,  in  ac- 
cordance with  General  Rosecrans'  plans.  A  glance 
at  the  map  will  convince  }7ou  that  "Old  Rosy"  was 
a  schemer.  Brown's  Ferry  was  beyond  reach  of 
the  Confederate  batteries  on  Lookout,  situated  on 
the  old  stage  road  to  Nashville,  and  crossing  Moc- 
casin Point  at  the  narrow  neck,  the  distance  from 
Chattanooga  was  only  about  six  miles.  Boats 
could  ascend  the  river  to  the  ferry  and  the  wagon 
haul  would  then  be  only  a  few  miles,  and  if  Gen- 
eral Hooker  could  march  along  the  south  side  of 
the  river  from  Bridgeport  to  the  ferry,  and  if  the 
plans  of  Rosecrans  should  prove  successful,  two 
wagon  roads  would  be  open  to  Bridgeport,  one  on 
the  north  and  one  on  the  south  side  of  the  river. 

Immediately  after  the  battle  of  Chickamauga, 
under  orders  from  the  War  Department,  the  Twen- 
tieth and  Twenty-first  Army  Corps  were  consoli- 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  115 

dated,  and  designated  the  Fourth  Army  Corps: 
Gordon  Granger  was  placed  in-  command.  Me- 
Cook  and  Crittenden  were  relieved  from  the  com- 
mand of  these  corps  and  were  ordered  north  to 
await  a  court  of  inquiry  upon  their  conduct  on  Sep- 
tember 19  and  20.  By  War  Department  orders  of 
October  16  the  Departments  of  the  Ohio,  the  Cum- 
berland, and  the  Tennessee,  were  constituted  the 
military  divisions  of  the  Mississippi,  under  the 
command  of  General  U.  S.  Grant.  By  the  same 
order,  General  Rosecrans  was  relieved  of  the  com- 
mand of  the  Department  and  Army  of  the  Cum- 
berland, and  General  Thomas  was  assigned  to  that 
command.  Halleck  in  his  report  of  operations 
for  the  }^ear  1863,  says:  "This  change  was  made 
on  recommendation  of  General  Grant,  October  19." 
On  Rosecrans'  return  from  the  visit  to  Brown's 
Feny,  and  Williams'  Island  on  the  19th,  he  found 
the  order  awaiting  him,  relieving  him  of  his  com- 
mand. Quietly  making  preparations  for  his  de- 
parture that  night,  over  the  mountains  to  Steven- 
son, he  wrote  out  his  farewell  order  to  be  issued 
and  printed  the  next  day,  and  without  even  bid- 
ding his  staff  good-bye,  placed  Thomas  in  com- 
mand and  started  for  his  home  in  Cincinnati. 
Rosecrans,  in  the  summer  of  1862,  was  under 
Grant  at  luka  and  Corinth.  Here  some  hasty  criti- 
cisms made  by  him  brought  him  into  collision  with 


116  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

Grant,  which  now  bore  fruit.  When  it  was  known 
that  Rosecrans  had  been  relieved  and  had  left  the 
army  for  the  north,  there  was  universal  regret 
among  the  troops,  who  had  loved  and  trusted  him, 
and  could  no  longer  follow  his  skillful  leadership. 
Every  soldier  in  his  army  felt  that  he  had  a  per- 
sonal friend  in  "Old  Rosy."  They  felt  that  he  had 
been  made  the  victim  of  a  foolish  interpretation  of 
an  order  that  brought  ruin  and  disaster  upon  his 
army,  for  which  he'was  not  responsible,  but  for 
which  he  was  made  to  suffer.  General  Rosecrans 
to  his  subordinates,  was  one  of  the  most  genial  of 
men,  kind  and  good  natured. 

His  restless  activity  led  him  to  give  attention  to 
detail  that  he  should  have  been  entirely  relieved 
of  by  his  subordinates.  During  his  campaigns  he 
lived  almost  without  rest  and  sleep,  and  would 
wear  out  two  sets  of  staff  officers  nightly.  To  his 
superiors  he,  unfortunately,  allowed  his  high 
spirit  to  get  the  better  of  his  judgment,  and  many 
times  when  he  was  in  the  right  he  ruined  his  posi- 
tion by  his  hasty  temper.  His  fame,  despite  his 
enemies  (and  no  general  in  the  field  had  stronger 
or  more  unscrupulous  ones),  as  the  greatest  strate- 
gist of  the  war,  is  permanently  fixed  in  history. 
He  had  faithfully  performed  his  duty  up  to  this 
time,  but  now  the  surroundings  were  so  changed 
that  both  for  his  sake  and  the  good  of  the  service 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  117 

the  change  was  a  fitting  one  to  be  made.  Kose- 
crans  could  never  again  serve  as  a  subordinate  to 
General  Grant.  Early  in  1861,  General  Anderson, 
in  the  Department  of  Kentucky,  applied  for  Geo. 
II.  Thomas  to  be  one  of  his  lieutenants.  Mr.  Lin- 
coln told  him  he  was  afraid  to  give  the  order  as 
Thomas  was  a  southerner  from  Virginia.  Sher- 
man and  Anderson  both  responded  in  the  strong- 
est terms,  vouching  for  Thomas'  earnest  patriot- 
ism and  deep  devotion  to  the  Union,  and  the  order 
was  given.  The  wisdom  of  their  choice  has  been 
fully  verified.  His  fame  had  steadily  grown  and 
rounded  from  the  time  he  gained  the  first  Federal 
victory  at  Mill  Springs  up  to  the  battle  of  Chicka- 
mauga,  where  he  saved  the  Army  of  the  Cumber- 
land to  the  Nation.  He  had  always  been  the  main- 
stay of  that  army,  holding  the  command  of  the  cen- 
ter, yet  so  modest  was  he,  that  his  face  would  color 
with  blushes  when  his  troops  cheered  him,  which 
they  did  at  every  opportunity.  His  kind  consid- 
erations for  the  feelings  of  others,  was  one  of  his 
marked  characteristics.  With  pure  mind  and 
large  heart,  his  noble  soul  made  him  one  of  the 
greatest  of  nature's  noblemen,  "A  true  gentleman.'' 
The  experience  of  Chickamauga  ripened  his  pow- 
ers and  developed  him  to  his  full  height.  As  the 
general  who  won  the  first  victory  in  the  West,  who 
saved  an  army  by  his  skill  and  valor,  George  H. 


118  GLIMPSES  OP  CHICKAMAUGA. 

Thomas,  the  true  soldier,  the  prudent  and  un- 
daunted commander,  the  modest  incorruptible 
patriot,  stands  as  the  model  American  soldier— 
the  grandest  figure  of  the  "War  of  the  Rebellion." 
One  of  Grant's  first  orders  on  taking  command  was 
to  telegraph  Thomas  to  hold  Chattanooga  at  all 
hazards. 

The"  commander  who  had  seen  his  troops  on  less 
than  half  rations  for  nearly  a  month,  with  stead- 
ily approaching  signs  of  starvation,  hardly  needed 
an  intimation  that  what  had  been  gained  by  the 
sacrifice  on  Chickamauga's  field,  was  not  to  be 
yielded  up  without  a  struggle.  Thomas  replied: 
"We  will  hold  the  town  till  we  starve." 

That  was  what  Bragg  was  quietly  waiting  for. 
He  knew  that  unless  new  lines. of  supplies  wrere 
opened  up,  the  evacuation  of  the  place  was  only 
a  question  of  time,  and  he  would  then  take  undis- 
puted possession.  As  the  forage  became  reduced 
the  artillery  horses,  for  which  there  was  no  im- 
mediate need,  had  their  rations  cut  off  and  died  in 
large  numbers — starved  to  death.  The  supplies 
grow  so  small  that  parts  of  crackers  and  corn, 
dropped  in  handling  the  packages,  were  seized  and 
eaten  to  stay  the  demands  of  hunger,  and  still  the 
pressure  was  growing  daily,  and  no  one  knew  how 
it  would  end.  However,  not  for  an  instant,  was  the 
idea  entertained  of  abandoning  the  town.  The 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICK  AM  AUGA.  119 

« 

Army  of  the  Cumberland  had  won  Chattanooga 
and  there  they  proposed  remaining. 

Upon  General  Grant's  arrival  in  Chattanooga, 
October  23,  Rosecrans'  plans  were  explained  to 
him  by  General  Thomas  and  approved.  He  at  once 
proceeded  to  execute  them  and  gave  General 
Smith  command  of  the  movement  from  Chatta- 
nooga. 

As  has  been  stated  Brown's  Ferry  was  the  point 
selected  as  the  place  for  throwing  the  bridge.  At 
the  ferry,  a  ridge  runs  parallel  to  the  river  on  the 
south  side.  The  road  to  Chattanooga  crosses  it 
through  a  narrow  gap  or  depression.  The  Confed- 
erates held  this  ridge,  and  their  pickets  extended 
from  Raccoon  Mountain  to  Chattanooga  Creek. 
Acording  to  the  proposed  plan,  General  Hooker 
was  to  cross  the  river,  march  along  the  south  bank 
to  Wauhatchie  and  the  ferry,  and  occupy  Lookout 
Valley.  General  Thomas  was  to  seize  the  ferry, 
and  the  troops  assigned  to  him  for  this  purpose 
were  Tnrchin's  Brigade,  Baird's  Division,  Four- 
teenth Corps  and  ITazen's  Brigade,  Wood's  Divi- 
sion, Fourth  Corps. 

Captain  P.  V.  Fox  of  the  Michigan  Mechanics 
and  Engineers,  who  had  charge  of  the  boat  and 
bridge  construction,  prepared  fifty  pontoons,  and 
on  the  night  of  October  26,  1,500  men,  under  com- 
mand of  General  Ilazen,  were  put  on  board  at 


120  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

* 

Chattanooga  Landing.  General  Smith  accompan- 
ied the  expedition.  By  previous  calculations  the 
starting  was  so  timed  that  they  should  reach  the 
ferry  about  daybreak.  They  rowed  across  the  river 
and  started  down  on  the  north  side,  proceeding 
without  being  discovered  by  the  Confederate  pick- 
ets, who  were  on  the  south  shore.  Guided  by  sig- 
nal lights  tbey  reached  the  ferry,  surprised  the 
Confederates  in  charge,  captured  it  and  imme- 
diately rowed  across  the  river,  where  the  troops 
who  had  marched  down  under  General  Turchin 
awaited*  them.  These  crossed  rapidly  and -occu- 
pied the  points  below,  the  position  above  being  oc- 
cupied by  Hazen's  troops.  The  men  were  at 
once  set  to  work  felling  timber,  and  by  daylight 
the  position  was  well  fortified.  The  losses  were 
6  killed,  23  wounded  and  9  missing.  The  only  Con- 
federate force  west  of  Lookout  Mountain  after  the 
capture  of  Brown's  Ferry  were  two  regiments  of 
Law's  Brigade  of  Hood's  Division.  In  the  engage- 
ment at  the  ferry,  Colonel  W.  C.  Gates  of  the  Fif- 
teenth Alabama  was  seriously  wounded.  General 
Hooker's  trains  arrived  at  Bridgeport  on  the  2f>th, 
and  on  the  morning  of  the  27th  he  crossed  the  river, 
and  in  obedience  to  orders  marched  eastward, 
reaching  Wauhatchie  at  3  p.  m.  of  the  28th.  Gen- 
eral Geary's  troops  bivouacked  near  the  village, 
the  Eleventh  Corps  moving  on  to  the  ferry.  The 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  121 

Union  forces  were  now  in  full  control  of  Lookout 
Valley,  and  the  river  to  Brown's  Ferry,  as  well  as 
the  wagon  roads  on  both  sides  of  the  river  to  Chat- 
tanooga, thus  affording  a  complete  line  of  com- 
munication. 


122  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 


CHAPTER  XL 

'          THE   BATTLE   OF   WAUHATCHIE. 

On  October  27  and  28,  General  Hooker  moved  his 
troops  along  the  base  of  the  Raccoon  Mountain 
into  Lookout  Valley.  The  Confederate  pickets  re- 
tiring before  him,  he  occupied  the  roads  to  Kelly's 
and  Brown's  Ferries  through  the  valley.  In  the 
afternoon  of  the  28th,  Howard's  Corps,  which  was 
in  advance,  was  met  by  a  sharp  volley  of  musketry 
from  the  woods  near  the  Wills  Valley  Railroad. 
Deploying  two  brigades  and  advancing,  Howard 
drove  the  Confederates  from  their  cover  wTith  the 
loss  of  a  few  men.  The  Confederates  as  they  re- 
treated burned  the  railroad  bridge  over  Lookout 
Creek.  At  3  o'clock  on  the  afternoon  of  the  28th, 
Hooker's  command  reached  Wauhatchie.  The 
Eleventh  Corps,  under  General  Howard,  marched 
on,  reaching  Browrn's  Ferry  about  5  p.  m.,  and  went 
into  camp  about  a  mile  up  the  valley  from  the 
ferry.  With  the  object  of  holding  the  road  to 
Kelly's  Ferry,  Geary's  Division  wras  ordered  to  en- 
camp near  Wauhatchie,  some  three  miles  from 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  123 

Howard's  position.  As  a  precautionary  measure 
the  troops  were  instructed  to  rest  on  their  arms 
with  cartridge  boxes  on.  About,  midnight,  Long- 
street,  who  had  command  of  the  Confederate  force 
in  Chattanooga  Valley,  assaulted  General  Geary's 
Division  with  a  fierce  attack. 

To  Law's  Brigade,  in  Lookout  Valley,  was 
assigned  the  duty  of  picketing  the  river  to  a  point 
six  miles  below  Brown's  Ferry.  These  were  the 
troops  who  had  attacked  Howard's  forces  near  the 
Wills  Valley  Railroad.  They  had  heretofore  held 
the  river  road,  forcing  the  Union  army  to  bring  its 
supplies  over  Walden's  Ridge. 

General  Hooker's  advance  was  reported  to  Gen- 
eral Bragg  on  the  27th,  but  he  did  not  credit  it. 
However,  on  the  afternoon  of  the  28th,  while  he 
was  on  Lookout  Mountain  in  consultation  with 
General  Longstreet  as  to  a  movement  by  the  latter 
to  dislodge  the  Union  forces  at  Brown's  Ferry, 
they  saw  General  Geary's  troops  arrive  at  Wau- 
hatchie. 

A  night  attack  was  immediately  decided  upon 
and  should  this  prove  successful  they  hoped  to  dis- 
lodge the  Union  forces  at  Brown's  Ferry  by  turn- 
ing the  attacking  force  upon  them.  As  the  Union 
batteries  were  so  posted  on  Moccasin  Point  as  to 
sweep  the  north  side  of  the  mountain,  the  whole 
movement  must  be  executed  at  night.  General 


124  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

Jenkiii.s,  who  commanded  Hood's  Division,  was  at 
once  sent  for  so  that  he  might  observe  the  position 
of  the  Union  forces  before  night.  His  three  bri- 
gades were  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain  at  ,6 :30  in 
the  evening  ready  to  move  at  dark.  General  Law 
was  to  occupy  the  ridge  commanding  Brown's 
Ferry,  Robertson's  Brigade  was  sent  to  the  sup- 
port of  Law  on  the  ridge  and  was  placed  on  his 
right  and  left  to  guard  the  bridge  and  picket  a  line 
to  the  mouth  of  Lookout  Creek.  Shortly  after  mid- 
night Colonel  Bratton,  commanding  Jenkin's  Bri- 
gade, made  a  desperate  assault  upon  Geary,  but 
found  him  fully  prepared,  as  the  troops  had 
bivouacked  with  accouterments  on  and  the  out- 
posts had  given  warning.  He  immediately  formed 
his  men  in  line,  and  for  three  hours  with  heavy 
fighting  maintained  his  position,  finally  charging 
on  the  Confederates  and  driving  them  beyond  his 
front.  The  Confederates  here  attacked  in  vastly 
superior  numbers  and  it  was  only  the  skill  and 
coolness  of  Geary,  aided  by  the  bravery  of  his 
troops  which  defeated  them.  The  Union  loss  in  the 
attack  was  76  killed,  339  wounded  and  22  missing; 
total,  437.  The  Confederate  loss  is  not  known,  but 
General  Geary  reported  burying  153  of  the  enemy 
on  his  front,  and  the  capture  of  100  prisoners,  writh 
a  number  of  small  arms. 

Work  was  now  rapidly  pushed  forward  and  by 


LEE   MANSION,   CRAWFISH    SPRINGS. 


T_T  EADQUARTERS  of  General  Rosecrans  from  September 
16th  to  19th,  1863,  where  he  awaited  the  arrival  of 
McCook's  Corps  from  its  isolated  position  at  Alpine,  suffering1 
the  most  intense  mental  agony  for  the  safety  of  his  detached 
troops,  in  the  face  of  a  strongly  re-enforced  and  concentrated 
enemy. 


GENERAL  JOHN   W.   GEARY 

WAS  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1820,  and  died  very  suddenly 
at  Harrisburg  in  1873.  He  served  in  the  war  with 
Mexico,  was  wounded,  and  for  gallant  service  was  made 
Colonel  of  his  regiment.  He  was  the  first  commander  of  the 
City  of  Mexico  after  its  capture.  Was  the  first  Mayor  of  San 
Francisco,  in  1848.  Was  appointed  Governor  of  Kansas  in  1856. 
Raised  and  equipped  a  regiment  of  volunteers  in  16(31.  Became 
Brigadier-general  in  1862,  commanded  the  second  division  of 
the  12th  Corps  in  the  battles  around  Chattanooga  in  1863,  and 
next  to  General  Hooker  was  the  Hero  of  Lookout  Mountain, 
driving  the  Confederates  from  their  strongholds  KK-0  feet  above 
the  valley.  Did  good  service  throiighout  the  war.  Was  elected 
Governor  of  Pennsylvania  in  1867. 


; ./ 

,""  fnl 
I.  •' 


GENERAL  JOSEPH  HOOKER 


\\T  AS  born  in  Massachusetts  in  1815.  Died  at  Long  Island  in 
1879.  He  was  a  graduate  of  West  Point,  served  in  the 
Mexican  War,  was  appointed  Brigadier-general  early  in  1861, 
did  gallant  service  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  was  styled 
"  Fighting  Joe  Hooker."  fought  the  famous  "  Battle  Above  the 
Clouds"  on  Lookout  Mountain  in  November,  1863,  was  made  a 
Major-general  in  1868,  and  retired  from  service. 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  125 

the  1st  of  November  the  siege  of  Chattanooga  was 
ended  as  far  as  the  undisturbed  communication 
with  Bridgeport  and  Stevenson  both  by  river  and 
wagon  road  was  concerned.  It  now  remained  to 
raise  it  on  the  front.  General  Grant  immediately 
commenced  operations  for  this  purpose  and  every 
arrangement  being  completed  he  only  awaited  the 
arrival  of  General  Sherman  to  attack  the  Confed- 
erate strongholds  at  Lookout  Mountain,  Chatta- 
nooga Valley  and  Missionary  Ridge. 


126  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

THE  BATTLE  OF  CHATTANOOGA,  ORCHARD 

KNOB,  LOOKOUT  MOUNTAIN  AND 

MISSIONARY  EIDGE. 


ORCHARD  KNOB. 

General  Thomas  received  an  order  from  General 
Grant,  November  18,  to  begin  the  movement 
against  Bragg's  position  on  Missionary  Ridge,  on 
the  21st,  at  daylight.  As  it  was  impossible  for 
General  Sherman's  troops  to  arrive  at  that  time, 
the  battle  was  postponed,  first  until  Sunday,  then 
until  Tuesday  morning.  The  same  conditions  still 
existing,  it  was  postponed  until  Wednesday.  Dur- 
ing the  delay  attending  General  Sherman's  move- 
ments Generals  Grant  and  Thomas  had  been  fear- 
ful lest  General  Bragg  should  obtain  a  knowledge 
of  their  plans.  A  deserter  came  in  on  the  night  of 
the  22nd,  who  stated  that  Bragg  was  withdrawing 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  127 

his  army.  General  Thomas,  on  the  23d,  was  di- 
rected to  ascertain  how  much  truth  there  was  in 
this  statement,  by  driving  in  the  enemy's  pickets 
and  finding  out  whether  his  camps  in  the  valley 
were  still  occupied.  A  force  of  reconnoissance  was 
organized  at  once,  five  divisions  being  posted  to 
participate  if  necessary.  Sheridan's  and  Wood's 
Divisions  of  Granger's  Corps,  soon  after  noon  were 
deployed  on  the  slope  east  of  Fort  Wood.  To  the 
left  and  rear  of  this  line  were  placed  Steinwehr's 
and  Sclmrz'  Divisions  of  Howard's  Corps,  and  to 
its  right  Baird's  Division  of  Palmer's  Corps.  Upon 
order  to  advance  being  given,  Wood's  Division 
went  forward  on  the  double  quick,  soon  reached, 
and  after  sharp  fighting,  occupied  the  knob. 
Sheridan's  Division  pressed  forward  and  occupied 
the  low  elevations  to  the  right  and  rear  of  the 
knob.  Howard's  Corps  advanced  to  Citito  Creek. 
It  was  found  that  the  Confederates  still  occupied 
their  lines  in  force,  but  the  important  position 
which  had  been  gained  was  strengthened  and 
held.  Orchard  Knob  and  the  hills  to  the  south  of 
it  were  the  strong  outposts  of  the  Confederate 
line  in  front  of  Missionary  Ridge,  and  were  the 
main  points  of  their  position  in  the  plain.  The 
troops  defending  them — mainly  Anderson's  Divi- 
sion— continued  fighting  until  overwhelmed. 


128  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 


BATTLE  OF  LOOKOUT  MOUNTAIN. 

On  the  22d,  General  Grant,  at  the  earnest  solici- 
tations of  General  Thomas,  consented  to  allow 
Hooker  to  make  a  demonstration  against  Lookout 
Mountain,  with  his  own  troops,  and  as  many  of  the 
troops  of  General  Sherman  as  should  be  upon  his 
(Hooker's)  side  of  the  river,  when  General  Sher- 
man reached  the  position  assigned  him.  General 
Sherman's  forces  were  ready  to  cross  the  river  on 
the  23d,  with  the  exception  of  Osterhaus'  Division, 
which  was  still  detained  in  Lookout  Valley  by  a 
broken  bridge.  As  it  was  impossible  for  Osterhaus 
to  cross  in  time  to  join  General  Sherman,  he  re- 
ported to  General  Hooker,  who  was  ordered  to  at- 
tack Lookout.  November  24th,  at  daylight,  Gen- 
eral Hooker  began  his  movement.  Geary's  Divi- 
sion and  Whittaker's  Brigade  of  Croft's  Division 
took  the  road  toward  Lookout  Creek  and 
crossed  that  stream  just  south  of  Wauhatchie  at 
Light's  Mill.  Cobham's  and  Ireland's  Brigade 
marched  directly  up  the  mountain  till  they 
reached  the  palisades.  At  this  tiine  the  line  faced 
the  north  point  of  the  mountain.  Candy's  Brigade 
slightly  echeloned  to -the  rear,  formed  the  left,  and 
Whittaker  the  reserve.  One  and  one-half  miles 
from  his  starting  point,  Geary  struck  the  left  of 


GEN.  E.  C.  WALTHALL. 


BORX  in  Virginia  in  1831;  was  taught  in  the  common  schools 
of  his  town.  In  18G1  he  entered  the  Confederacy  as 
Lieutenant-colonel  of  the  15th  Mississippi  regiment;  was  Colonel 
of  the  29th  Mississippi  in  18C2,  served  brilliantly  through  the 
entire  struggle,  participating  in  the  Battle  of  Chickamauga 
and  the  battles  around  Chattanooga  in  1863. 


GEN.   JOHN    C.    BRECK1NRIDGE. 

BORN  in  Kentucky  in  1821.  Died  in  Lexing-tr>n  (his  native 
town)  in  1875.  Served  in  the  Mexican  Wiir  Served  two 
terms  in  Congress.  Was  Vice-President  under  Buchanan,  was 
in  the  U.  S.  Senate  when  the  war  broke  out,  was  expelled  from 
1  hat  body  in  December,  1801,  and  joined  the  Confederacy.  Was 
made  Major-general,  commanded  a  division  at  Chickamaugra. 
was  Secretary  of  War  under  Jefferson  Davis  when  the  war 
closed,  when  he  departed  for  Europe,  returning  to  his  native 
state  in  a  short  time. 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  129 

Walthall's  works.  Osterhaus'  Division  and  Grose's 
Brigade  of  Croft's  Division  had  crossed  Lookout 
Creek  a  short  distance  above  the  railroad  bridge 
and  advanced,  Williamson's  Brigade  being  on  the 
right  and  Wood's  on  the  left.  Of  Grose's  troops, 
four  regiments  were  on  Williamson's  right  and 
two  on  Wood's  left.  The  left  of  their  line  followed 
along  the  bluffs  of  the  river  on  the  road  to  Chatta- 
nooga, while  the  right  reached  near  to  the  Craven 
house.  Geary's  lines,  following  the  slope,  moved 
upon  the  flank  of  Walthall's  works,  passed  them 
and  swung  around  upon  the  Craven  house  grounds, 
uniting  at  this  point  with  Osterhaus'  line.  Walt- 
hall's  Brigade,  in  spite  of  its  stubborn  resistance, 
was  forced  about  350  yards  east  of  the  Craven 
house.  His  final  stand  was  taken  on  the  road 
lending, east  from  Craven's  to  the  foot  of  the  pali- 
sades. Here  the  Union  advance  was  checked,  and 
Pettus  coming  to  his  relief,  Walthall,  Pettus.  and 
Moore  held  the  Summertown  Road,  by  which  the 
entire  Confederate  force  left  the  mountain  during 
the  night.  Just  at  dusk,  Carlin's  Brigade  of  John- 
son's Division  crossed  Chattano.oga  Creek,  and 
climbing  the  mountain  with  supplies  of  ammuni- 
tion, relieved  Geary's  line.  Picket  firing  was  con- 
tinued during  the  night,  while  the  mountain  was 
being  abandoned  by  the  Confederates.  The  main 
object  of  their  resistance  was  to  cover  the  Sum- 
mertown Road  which  was  their  line  of  retreat. 


130  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 


SHERMAN'S  CROSSING. 

On  the  24th  of  November,  General  Sherman 
crossed  the  Tennessee  six  miles  above  Chatta- 
nooga. The  landing  place  was  two  miles  below 
North  Chiekamauga,  near  the  mouth  of  South 
Chickamauga.  One  hundred  and  forty  boats  had 
been  prepared  and  at  midnight  were  filled  by  Ci.  A. 
Smith's  Brigade  of  M.  L.  Smith's  Division,  and 
floated  across,  reaching  a  point  just  above  the 
mouth  of  the  latter  stream.  The  troops  landing 
captured  all  but  one  of  the  enemy's  pickets.  The 
boats  returned  for  and  landed  the  rest  of  UK*  divi- 
sion below  the  mouth  of  the  South  Chickamauga. 
Then  John  E.  Smith's  Division  followed,  and  8,000 
men  were  over  and  in  line  facing  Tunnel  Hill  at  7 
o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  25th.  Ewing's  Divi- 
sion .and  the  artillery  and  horses  for  the  officers 
and  staff  were  next  ferried  over.  At  12  o'clock  the 
bridge  was  complete.  General  Sherman  crossed 
and  was  met  by  General  Howard,  who,  with  his 
escort  and  three  regiments  of  infantry,  had  ridden 
from  Chattanooga  unmolested  by  the  enemy.  Gen- 
eral Jeff.  C.  Davis'  Division,  which,  with  forty 
pieces  of  artillery,  covered  the  troops  while  cross- 
ing, ;is  well  as  the  const  ruction  of  the  bridge,  wa. 
the  last  to  cross. 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  131 


TUNNEL  HILL. 

The  forces  confronting  General  Sherman  at  Tun- 
nel Hill  were  Smith's,  Govan's  and  Lowrey's  Bri- 
gades of  Cleburne's  Division,  Brown's  and  Cum- 
mings'  of  Stevenson's  Division,  and  Maney's  of 
Walker's  Division.  General  Cleburne's  troops 
reached  Tunnel  Hill  about  2  o'clock,  November  24. 
Smith's  Brigade  was  sent  forward  to  hold  the  hills 
north  and  west  of  Missionary  Kidge,  but  found 
them  already  occupied  by  General  Sherman's' 
troops.  General  Cleburne's  forces  then  occupied 
the  ridge  from  the  Tunnel  to  the  north  point  and 
threw  up  entrenchments  at  this  latter  place. 

In  the  evening  General  Cleburne,  supposing 
that  since  General  Hooker  had  broken  the  Confed- 
erate lines  at  Lookout,  and  both  flanks  of  the  army 
were  exposed,  Bragg  would  abandon  Missionary 
Kidge,  sent  his  artillery  and  ordnance  stores 
across  the  Chickamauga,  but  learning  that  the 
ridge  was  to  be  held  he  ordered  their  return  as 
soon  as  possible  in  the  morning,  and  at  7  o'clock 
disposed  his  forces  for  battle.  As  soon  as  the  en- 
emy's position  could  be  discovered  through  the  ris- 
ing mists,  Sherman's  batteries  opened  fire,  and  the 
detachments  which  were  throwing  up  works  at 
Tunnel  Hill  were  obliged  to  abandon  their  opera- 


132  GLIMPSES  OF  CIIICKAMAUGA. 

tions.  General  Cleburne  was  placed  in  command 
of  the  troops  from  the  tunnel  northward  before  the 
first  attack  of  General  Sherman.  The  brunt' of  the 
day's  battle  was  borne  by  Smith's  Brigade  of 
Texas  Volunteers,  which  was  commanded  after 
Smith  was  wounded  by  Colonel  Roger  Q.  Mills,  and 
the  Second  Fifteenth  and  Twenty-fourth  Arkansas 
of  Goran's  Brigade,  and  Sweet's  and  Key's  batter- 
ies. General  Cleburne  considered  the  engage- 
ment of  the  remainder  of  his  division  "heavy  skir- 
mishing." Brown's  Brigade  was  engaged  all  day 
in  the  very  severe  skirmishing  on  Smith's  left  near 
the  tunnel.  About  4  p.  m.,  Brown's,  Cummings' 
and  Maney's  Brigades  were  sent  to  report  to  Gen- 
eral Cheatham,  a  few  miles  south  of  the  tunnel, 
where  he  was  resisting  the  northward  advance  of 
Baird's  Division  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland. 
Walthall's  Brigade  of  Cheatham's  Division  suc- 
ceeded in  checking  Baird's  advance  about  5:30 
p.  m.  The  Confederate  right  wing  withdrew  in 
order  across  the  Chickamauga. 

THE  STORMING  OF  MISSIONARY  RIDGE. 

In  planning  the  battle  of  Chattanooga  Grant 
wished  first  to  gain  possession  of  Missionary  Ridge, 
from  the  north  end  to  the  tunnel,  and  his  orders  to 
Sherman  were  to  cross  the  river  and  occupy  the 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  133 

position  if  possible  before  the  enemy  could  con- 
centrate there.  But  circumstances  over  which  he 
had  no  control  delayed  Sherman's  crossing  and 
events  so  shaped  themselves  that  what  Grant  had 
intended  to  be  first  was  last,  and  last  first,  as 
Orchard  Knob  and  Lookout  Mountain  were  both 
taken  before  Missionary  Eidge.  Grant  also  in- 
tended for  Sherman  to  capture  the  ridge,  but,  not 
according  to  his  plan,  it  was  captured  by  the  Army 
of  the  Cumberland.  General  Sherman  crossed  the 
river  on  the  24:th,  and  made  his  disposition  for  at- 
tacking according  to  orders  at  Tunnel  Hill.  At 
3  o'clock  the  attack  had  failed  at  that  point  and  as 
Sherman  was  fighting  the  heaviest  column  of  the 
enemy  on  the  left,  and  was  being  slowly  driven 
back,  General  Grant  ordered  Thomas  to  move  out 
with  the  four  divisions  constituting  the  center. 
Baird  on  the  left,  then  Wood,  with  Sheridan  on  his 
right,  and  Johnson  on  the  extreme  right  of  the  line, 
with  a  double  line  of  skirmishers  to  the  front,  sup- 
ported by  the  entfre  force,  press  forward,  and  if 
possible  carry  the  first  line  of  rifle  pits,  halt  there 
and  await  orders.  This  movement  was  to  com- 
mence at  3  o'clock  at  a  signal  of  six  guns  fired  in 
rapid  succession  from  Orchard  Knob.  After  some 
little  delay  attending  the  preliminaries  of  the 
movement  at  3:30  o'clock,  the  commands  moved 
out  and  were  in  position  for  advance  when  the 


134  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

guns  sounded,  one,  two,  three,  four,  five,  six.  With 
this,  the  troops  impatient  at  being  kept  in  their 
breastworks  all  day,  while  Sherman's  men  were 
hard  at  work,  eagerly  pushed  onward,  divisions, 
brigades  and  regiments,  each  one  endeavoring  to 
be  first  at  the  ridge.  As  soon  as  Bragg  discovered 
this  movement  he  hurried  reinforcements  from  the 
right  and  left  to  strengthen  the  troops  in  his  works 
to  resist  the  advance  on  his  center,  which  was 
under  the  command  of  Breckenridge.  The  Con- 
federates had  originally  four  lines  of  breastworks. 
The  first  was  captured,  at  Orchard  Knob,  this  left 
three  lines.  The  first  of  the  remaining  three  being 
about  half  a  mile  to  the  rear  of  the  one  captured 
at  the  knob,  and  was  near  the  foot  of  the  ridge.  As 
before  stated  our  troops  eagerly  pressed  forward, 
soon  they  broke  into  a  run,  and  although  the 
enemy  opened  fire  writh  shot  and  shell  soon  chang- 
ing it  to  grape  and  canister,  which,  with  the  fire 
from  the  infantry  made  it  fearfully  hot,  there  was 
no  check  on  any  part  of  the  line  until  the  rifle  pits 
at  the  foot  of  the  hill  were  reached  and  captured. 
From  here  to  the  top  was  a  steep  ascent  of  some 
500  yards  covered  with  large  rocks  and  fallen  tim- 
ber. About  half  way  up  the  ridge  a  small  line  of 
works -had  been  thrown  up.  On  the  summit  of  the 
ridge  the  heaviest  breastworks  had  been  con- 
structed, protected  by  some  fifty  pieces  of  artillery 


GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  135 

in  position.  After  obtaining  possession  of  the 
works  at  the  foot  of  the  hill,  the  troops  halted,  ac- 
cording to  orders,  but  being  under  a  galling  fire, 
without  waiting  for  further  orders,  first  one  regi- 
ment, then  another,  started  with  its  colors  ID 
the  ascent  until  the  entire  line  cheered  by 
their  officers,  and  with  loud  hurrahs,  advanced 
over  and  around  the  rocks,  under  and  through  the 
fallen  timber,  charged  up  the  ridge,  each  deter- 
mined to  reach  the  summit  first.  The  center  purl 
of  Sheridan's  Division  reached  the  top  first  as  they 
wrere  nearest  to  the  crest,  but  the  rest  of  the  line 
were  soon  up  and  almost  simultaneously  the  ridge 
was  carried  in  six  places.  Here  after  a  short  fight 
the  Confederates  were  compelled  to  retreat.  Sev- 
eral regiments  were  captured  almost  entire,  and 
battery  after  battery  was  taken.  Upon  reaching 
the  summit,  General  Sheridan's  Division  de- 
scended the  eastern  slope  and  began  an  active  pur- 
suit. It  was  soon  engaged  with  Bates'  Division 
a  short  distance  east  of  the  ridge,  who  had  taken  a 
position  there  and  held  it  until  dark,  when  the 
firing  ceased  and  they  withdrew.  General  Baird's 
troops  turned  northward  along  the  summit,  pay- 
ing little  heed- to  organization  and  pushed  Jack- 
son's and  Moore's  Brigades  of  Cheatham's  Division, 
eastward  and  northward  to  the  top  of  the  thirt! 
knoll.  Here  General  Walthall's  Brigade  of  Cheat 


136  GLIMPSES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. 

ham's  Division  made  a  firm  stand,  reinforced .  by 
Brown's  Brigade  of  Stevenson's  Division,  which 
had  been  ordered  from  Sherman's  front  at  the 
tunnel.  At  dark  the  firing  ceased  when  the  Con- 
federates abandoned  the  ridge. 


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